Bo Gritz, an American military officer and politician, died on February 27, 2026, at age 87.
Born James Gordon Gritz in Enid, Oklahoma, he served as an officer in the United States Army Special Forces during the Vietnam War. After leaving the military, he became involved in several unsuccessful efforts to rescue prisoners of war linked to the Vietnam War POW/MIA issue.
Gritz later ran for president in 1992 as the Populist Party candidate, promoting an isolationist platform in a campaign marked by the slogan “God, Guns, and Gritz.”
James Gordon “Bo” Gritz (/ˈɡraɪts/; January 18, 1939 – February 27, 2026) was an officer of the United States Army Special Forces who served during the Vietnam War. Following his military career, Gritz became involved in various failed attempts to rescue prisoners of war (POWs) associated with the Vietnam War POW/MIA issue.