James “Bo” Gritz, a retired U.S. Army Special Forces officer who said he inspired John Rambo, has died at 87, his wife confirmed.
A highly decorated Vietnam veteran with the 5th Special Forces Group, Gritz retired as a lieutenant colonel and received multiple honors, including three Silver Stars. He led covert missions in Laos to rescue American POWs and took part in high-risk operations, including recovering a black box from a downed U-2 spy plane in Cambodia in 1966.
After leaving the military, Gritz became active in politics and controversial movements. He ran for president in 1992 under the Populist Party and served as a mediator during the 1992 Ruby Ridge standoff, helping negotiate a peaceful resolution with Randy Weaver. He later attempted to mediate in the Montana Freemen standoff.
Gritz was featured in the 2017 documentary Erase and Forget, where he discussed his claimed influence on the Rambo films. He lived in Sandy Valley, Nevada, and died peacefully at home. No cause of death was reported. He is survived by his wife and four children.