John Henry Gruber

John’s tour began on September 7, 1970 and he was killed in action in Bien Hoa, South Vietnam from an incident on 05/23/1971 while performing the duty of Gunner on U.S. Army helicopter OH-6A, tail number 67-16486.

John's name appears on the wall of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial (Panel 03W - Line 52). John was born November 5, 1951 and graduated from Rio Linda High School in 1969.

Jeremy Hogan whose father served with John Gruber, had this to say about John. “I was looking for John Gruber a few months ago and I found him on the wall. My dad left Vietnam in April 1971. Gruber was killed two months later. My father said Gruber was like everyone’s little brother. He joined the army when he was 17 and his parents had to sign for him to do so. Someone asked him what the one-percent tattoo was about and he made a joke. “He knew what it was about,” my dad said. Well, Gruber was a one-percenter in one of the toughest, bravest units to ever tread and fly through the jungles of Vietnam. May he rest in peace on the Fiddler’s Green. He is definitely missed by my dad and all the others who served with him.”