The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain John C. Gruver (AFSN: 0-53730), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an UH-1F Helicopter Pilot in Southeast Asia on 21 March 1967. On that date, Captain Gruver volunteered to attempt the evacuation of four injured friendly troops from a position beleaguered by hostile forces. With great determination and complete disregard for his own safety, Captain Gruver held a hover while under fire and recovered four men who faced capture or death. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Captain Gruver reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
Sponsored by:
Awards Received
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Legion of Merit
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Air Force Cross
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Distinguished Flying Cross
Service:
United States Air ForceRank:
CaptainBatallion:
20th Special Operations SquadronDivision:
Nha Trang Air Base, VietnamAction Date:
March 25, 1967
Headquarters, 7th Air Force, Special Orders No. G-845 (June 15, 1967)The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain John C. Gruver (AFSN: 0-53730), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as Aircraft Commander of an UH-1F helicopter in Southeast Asia on 25 March 1967. On that date, Captain Gruver flew gunship cover for an assault party that drew fire in the landing zone. With complete disregard for his own safety, Captain Gruver flew through hostile fire to support the evacuation of one wounded man and then landed in the beleaguered clearing to evacuate a second wounded man himself. Subsequently, he returned to the same area and hovered under fire for a sustained period to recover the third wounded soldier. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Captain Grover reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
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Legion of Merit
Service:
United States Air ForceRank:
ColonelAction Date:
June 30, 1980 – October 31, 1984
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, 20 July 1942, takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Colonel John C. Gruver (AFSN: 0-53730), United States Air Force, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Commander, 86th Security Police Squadron, 86th Tactical Fighter Wing, Ramstein Air Base, Germany, and as Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff, Security Police, Headquarters, United States Air Forces in Europe, Ramstein Air Base, Germany, from 30 June 1980 to 31 October 1984. In these very important assignments, his dynamic leadership, exemplary foresight, ceaseless efforts, and incisive insight resulted in immeasurable contributions to the security and defense of the warfighting assets of the United States Air Forces in Europe and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The singularly distinctive accomplishments of Colonel Gruver culminate a long and distinguished career in the service of his country and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
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Air Force Cross
Service:
United States Air ForceRank:
CaptainBatallion:
20th Special Operations SquadronDivision:
Nha Trang Air Base, VietnamAction Date:
March 21, 1967
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Title 10, Section 8742, United States Code, takes pleasure in presenting the Air Force Cross to Captain John Carlton Gruver (AFSN: 0-53730), United States Air Force, for extraordinary heroism in military operations against an opposing armed force as aircraft commander of a UH-1F helicopter of the 20th Special Operations Squadron, Nha Trang Air Base, Vietnam, in action near Dak To, Republic of Vietnam, on 21 March 1967. On that date, Captain Gruver flew in support of friendly ground forces who were partially encircled in a bomb crater and unable to take evasive action because of their wounded members. He initially hovered in the hostile field of fire to suppress flames threatening a downed Army helicopter and then returned to evacuate the wounded. With the ground party freed to withdraw, Captain Gruver remained in the area to fly repeated fire suppressing passes in support of their movement. His determination and aggressive airmanship in the face of hostile resistance saved an aircraft from destruction and a highly trained team of American fighting men from capture or death. Through his extraordinary heroism, superb airmanship, and aggressiveness in the face of hostile forces, Captain Gruver reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.