Bo Gritz

James "Bo" Gritz (born January 18, 1939 in Enid, Oklahoma) was a highly decorated Green Beret officer during the Vietnam War whose post-war activities—notably attempted POW rescues—have proven controversial. He remained a Green Beret officer until he resigned his commission in 1979. Image File history File links Bo-gritz-2. ... Image File history File links Bo-gritz-2. ... January 18 is the 18th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... Enid is a city located in Garfield County, Oklahoma. ... Shoulder sleeve patch of the United States Army Special Forces, the Green Berets. ... Combatants Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam) United States of America South Korea Thailand Australia New Zealand the Philippines Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam) National Liberation Front (Viet Cong) Strength ~1,200,000 (1968) ~420,000 (1968) Casualties South Vietnamese dead: 230,000 South Vietnamese wounded: 300,000 US dead... This page refers to the year 1979. ...

Attempts to locate prisoners of war

During the 1980s Gritz undertook a series of private trips into Southeast Asia, purportedly to locate United States prisoners of war which some believed were still being held by the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Those missions were heavily publicized, controversial and widely decried as shambolic — for instance, as some commentators stated, few successful secret missions involve bringing to the border towns women openly marketing commemorative POW rescue T-shirts. All such missions failed to locate any live POWs. MacGyver is one of the symbols of the 1980s in America The 1980s decade refers to the years from 1980 to 1989, inclusive. ... Location of Southeast Asia Southeast Asia is a subregion of Asia. ... Geneva Convention definition A prisoner of war (POW) is a soldier, sailor, airman, or marine who is imprisoned by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Socialist state. ...

Drug trafficking allegations

In 1986, after a trip to Burma to interview drug kingpin Kun Sah regarding possible locations of U.S. POWs, Gritz returned from Burma with a videotaped interview of Kun Sah purporting to name several officials in the Reagan administration involved in narcotics trafficking in Southeast Asia. Among those named was Richard Armitage, who most recently served as Deputy Secretary of State during George W. Bush's first term as President. Gritz believed that those same officials were involved in a coverup of missing American POWs. Retail selling Street selling is the bottom of the chain and can be accomplished through purchasing from prostitutes, through cloaked retail stores or refuse houses for users in the act located in red-light districts which often also deal in paraphernalia, dealers marketing merriment at night clubs and other events... 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... President Reagan, with his Cabinet and staff, in the Oval Office (February 4, 1981) Headed by U.S. President Ronald Reagan from 1981 to 1989, the Reagan Administration was conservative, steadfastly anti-Communist and in favor of tax cuts and smaller government. ... The term narcotic, derived from the Greek word for stupor, originally referred to a variety of substances that induced sleep (such state is narcosis). ... George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is the 43rd and current President of the United States and a former governor of Texas. ...

During this period Gritz established contacts with the Christic Institute, a leftist group which was then pursuing a lawsuit against the U.S. government over charges of drug trafficking in both Southeast Asia and Central America. He also established increasing contacts with conspiracy theorists of the right. The Christic Institute was a liberal public interest law firm founded in 1980 by Daniel Sheehan, his wife, Sara Nelson and their partner, William J. Davis, who was a Jesuit priest. ... Map of Central America Central America is a central region of the Americas. ... In politics, right-wing, the political right, or simply The Right, are terms that refer to the segment of the political spectrum often associated with any of several strains of conservatism, the religious right, and areas of classical liberalism, or simply the opposite of left-wing politics. ...

Conspiracy theorist

In 1989, Gritz established the Center For Action, which was active on a number of issues, mostly pertaining to conspiracy theories. Attempting to build bridges among conspiracy theorists and other activists of both the left and right, in 1990 he held a conference in Las Vegas, Nevada called "Freedom Call '90". Speakers at that conference included October Surprise researcher Barbara Honegger, Bill Davis of the Christic Institute, conspiracy theorist Eustace Mullins, and several others. This newfound interest in conspiracy theories proved to be as controversial as Gritz's earlier missions searching for POWs, especially after allegations surfaced of anti-Semitism directed at one of the speakers, Eustace Mullins. 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... In politics, left-wing, the political left or simply The Left are terms that refer to the segment of the political spectrum typically associated with any of several strains of socialism or Social Democracy/Democratic Socialist and Social liberalism, and defined in contradistinction to its polar opposite, the right-wing. ... This article is about the year. ... This article is about the city of Las Vegas in Nevada. ... Official language(s) None Capital Largest city Carson City Las Vegas Area  - Total   - Width   - Length    - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 7th 110,567 sq mi  286,367 km² 322 miles  519 km 490 miles  788 km 0. ... An October surprise is a stunning news event calculated to influence the outcome of an election in the United States, particularly one for the presidency. ... Eustace Clarence Mullins (born 1923 in Virginia) is the last living student (aka. ... The Eternal Jew: 1937 German poster. ... Eustace Clarence Mullins (born 1923 in Virginia) is the last living student (aka. ...

Anti-war activities

During the 1991 Persian Gulf War, Gritz was an outspoken opponent of that war, and linked it to a conspiracy theory alleging plans to implement a one-world government, known as the "new world order". He appeared on Pacifica Radio stations in California as a guest several times, and for a short time was in demand as a speaker to left-wing and anti-war audiences. However, during this period he also became closely associated with the Christian Patriot movement on the right, and spoke at conferences sponsored by Christian Identity pastor Pete Peters. When these associations became known to those on the left, especially after the publication of a report by the Los Angeles-based group People Against Racist Terror calling Gritz a "front man for fascism", left-wing audiences lost interest in Gritz, and the Christic Institute and Pacifica Radio cut off any further association. 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... See also: 2003 invasion of Iraq and Gulf War (disambiguation) C Company, 1st Battalion, The Staffordshire Regiment, 1st UK Armoured Division The Persian Gulf War was a conflict between Iraq and a coalition force of 34 nations led by the United States. ... The current version of the article or section reads like an advertisement. ... This article or section may contain original research or unverified claims. ... Pacifica Radio is a network of five independent owned and operated, non-commercial, listener-supported radio stations, one associated station, and 90 affiliated radio stations in the United States that is known for its leftist and pacifist political views. ... Official language(s) English Capital Largest city Sacramento Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq. ... Anti war protest in Melbourne, Australia, 2003 Anti_war is a name that is widely adopted by any social movement or person that seeks to end or oppose a future or current war. ... The Christian Patriot movement is a loose association of groups and people in the United States. ... Christian Identity is a label applied to a wide variety of loosely-affiliated groups and churches with a racialized theology. ... Peter John Peters is pastor of the LaPorte Church of Christ in Laporte, Colorado. ... Nickname: City of Angels Official website: http://www. ... To Meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

Author

Gritz is the author of three books. The first, A Nation Betrayed, was published in 1989 and contained Gritz's allegations of drug trafficking and a POW coverup, based on the Kun Sah interview. The second, Called To Serve, was published in 1992 and expanded on the previous book to cover a wide range of conspiracy theories, including the assassination of John F. Kennedy and allegations of a new world order. His third book is entitled My Brother's Keeper and was published in 2003. 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ... President Kennedy, with his wife, Jacqueline Kennedy, and Texas Governor John Connally in the Presidential limousine shortly before the assassination. ... John Fitzgerald Kennedy (May 29, 1917 – November 22, 1963), often referred to as John F. Kennedy, JFK or Jack Kennedy, was the 35th President of the United States. ...

Presidential candidate

In 1992, Gritz ran for President of the United States on the Populist Party ticket. He received 106,152 votes nationwide, or 0.1% of the popular vote. In two states he had a respectable showing for a third party candidate: Utah, where he received 3.84% of the vote, and Idaho, where he received 2.13% of the vote. In some counties, his support topped 10-12%; likely significant to these results is that Gritz had purportedly converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (colloquially, the Mormon church). His run on the Populist Party ticket created further controversy, because of that party's past ties to David Duke and Willis Carto. The presidential seal was used by President Hayes in 1880 and last modified in 1959 by adding the 50th star for Hawaii. ... The Populist Party was a short-lived political party in late 19th century in the United States. ... Official language(s) English Capital Largest city Salt Lake City Salt Lake City Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 13th 219,887 km² 435 km 565 km 3. ... Official language(s) None Capital Largest city Boise Boise Area  Ranked 14th  - Total 83,642 sq. ... Religious conversion is the adoption of new religious beliefs that differ from the converts previous beliefs; in some cultures (e. ... The temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located in Salt Lake City, Utah is the largest attraction in the citys Temple Square. ... For other uses, see Mormon (disambiguation). ... David Duke David Ernest Duke (born July 1, 1950) is a former Louisiana State Representative and former leader of the Ku Klux Klan in the United States. ... Willis Allison Carto (born July 17, 1926 in Indiana) is a longtime figure on the far right wing of American politics. ...

Also during 1992, Gritz attracted national attention as mediator during the government standoff with Randy Weaver at Ruby Ridge, Idaho. Randy Weaver Randall Claude Weaver was born on January 3, 1948. ... Ruby Ridge is a remote mountainous area in the northern Idaho Panhandle, known for a confrontation in August 1992 between a family living there and agents of the US federal government. ...

Controversial activities

In 1993, Gritz changed his emphasis again and began offering a course called SPIKE (Specially Prepared Individuals for Key Events), which taught paramilitary and survivalist skills. He also established a community in Idaho called Almost Heaven. Both of these proved to be even more controversial than his past activities, attracting charges from anti-racist watchdog groups that he was trying to build a community of Christian Identity believers and train them in paramilitary skills for a showdown with the government. 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... A paramilitary organization is a group of civilians trained and organized in a military fashion. ... A survivalist is a person who anticipates a potential disruption in the continuity of local, regional or worldwide society, and takes steps to survive in the resulting unpredictable situation. ... Anti-racism, like other general social attitudes, ideas and movements, has many variations and faces. ... A watchdog originally referred to a dogs job, but now has been used in additional contexts with the same implication of watching or safeguarding: For the dogs job, see guard dog. ... Christian Identity is a label applied to a wide variety of loosely-affiliated groups and churches with a racialized theology. ...

Several times he used his influence and reputation in the Patriot community in attempts to negotiate conclusions between legal authorities and Far-Right activists. In August 1992, he intervened on behalf of Randy Weaver who, with his family, was holed up on his rural home in Ruby Ridge, Idaho, after U.S. Marshalls attempted to arrest him on a weapons charge. The 11-day standoff, which resulted in the deaths of a U.S. Marshall, Weaver's son and wife, ended after Gritz convinced Weaver to leave his cabin, and place his faith and trust in the court system. In 1996, he unsuccessfully attempted to negotiate a conclusion to the stand-off by the Montana Freemen, a group of Christian Patriot activists who were wanted on a collection of charges. After speaking with the "Freemen", he left in frustration, stating that they presented him with what he called "legalistic mumbo-jumbo" to support their claims, and cautioned others in the Patriot movement not to support them (The stand-off ended when the "Freemen" surrendered after 81 days). Randy Weaver Randall Claude Weaver was born on January 3, 1948. ... Ruby Ridge is a remote mountainous area in the northern Idaho Panhandle, known for a confrontation in August 1992 between a family living there and agents of the US federal government. ... Official language(s) None Capital Largest city Boise Boise Area  Ranked 14th  - Total 83,642 sq. ... The Montana Freemen were a Christian patriot group based in Montana, United States, near the town of Jordan. ... The Christian Patriot movement is a loose association of groups and people in the United States. ...

Subsequent activities

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints responded to his newfound extremist and anti-government activities by excommunicating Gritz and several of his supporters. He eventually cut his ties to the Almost Heaven community and returned to Nevada. In 1998, Gritz began a fruitless search for abortion clinic bombing suspect Eric Rudolph. Also in 1998, Gritz made a failed suicide attempt while facing a divorce. He continues today with a website but his influence within the Christian Patriot movement and among conspiracy theorists has greatly diminished, the POW issue is no longer considered credible, while any interest the Left had in him was gone by 1992, leaving him largely without an audience. The temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located in Salt Lake City, Utah is the largest attraction in the citys Temple Square. ... 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ... Eric Robert Rudolph (born September 19, 1966) is a suspect in the July 27, 1996 Centennial Olympic Park bombing at the Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, which killed Alice Hawthorne and wounded 111 others. ... Suicide (from Latin sui caedere, to kill oneself) is the act of willfully ending ones own life. ... Divorce or dissolution of marriage is the ending of a marriage before the death of either spouse, which can be contrasted with an annulment, which is a declaration that a marriage is void, though the effects of marriage may be recognized in such unions, such as spousal support, child custody... This page as shown in the aol 9. ...

In 2005, Gritz became an active protester against the removal of a feeding tube from Terri Schiavo, a comatose Florida woman. On March 19, 2005, when the tube was removed, he was arrested for trespassing after trying to enter the hospice where she lived. 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Terri Schiavo before her 1990 collapse. ... Official language(s) English Capital Largest city Tallahassee Jacksonville Area  - Total   - Width   - Length    - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 22nd 65,794 sq mi  170,451 km² 162 miles  260 km 497 miles  800 km 17. ... March 19 is the 78th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (79th in leap years). ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• Gritz's official website
• Gritz's 1988 Feb 1 letter to VP Bush
• James Gritz's testimony to the U.S. Senate Slect Committee, Nov 23rd, 1992.
• Prisoners Of War: The Search For Answers by Travis Masters.
• "A Nation Betrayed" A Public Lecture Lieutenant Colonel James "Bo" Gritz (U.S. Army-Retired), June 1, 1990 (An Unofficial Transcript).
• Chicago Tribune feature story by Anthony DeBartolo
• "Extremism In America" - ADL Webpage critical of Gritz