With deep sorrow, we share the news of the loss of a true legend 💔 Once you learn who he was, it will touch your heart profoundly. (Check In First comment👇)

James Gordon “Bo” Gritz — the highly decorated U.S. Army Special Forces officer whose daring wartime exploits, political ambitions.

And controversial activism made him a fixture of American military and cultural history — died peacefully on February 27, 2026, at the age of 87.

His wife, Judy Gritz, confirmed his death in a public statement, saying he passed “peacefully, looking into the eyes of our Savior” at their home in Sandy Valley, Nevada. For decades, Gritz was a larger‑than‑life figure — admired by some for his service and tenacity, and criticized by others for his involvement in militia movements and fringe political causes.

Throughout it all, he maintained a complex and deeply personal sense of duty rooted in his military oath and a lifelong belief in defending constitutional liberties.

In life and in death, his legacy remains as multifaceted and debated as the man himself.

Early Life and Military Enlistment

James Gordon Gritz was born on January 18, 1939, in Enid, Oklahoma. While details about his childhood are less prominently documented in public records, he grew up deeply influenced by military culture — his father served in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II.