Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      Maj. Peter Gruters stands with his Uncle, Capt. (ret.) Guy Gruters, after Guy's speech Jan. 22, 2014, at Airman Leadership School on Fort George G. Meade, Md. Peter joined the Air Force to continue his famed uncle's legacy. Peter is the director of operations with the 34th Intelligence Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Samuel Daub)140122-F-UV300-003
                        
                        
                        Maj. Peter Gruters stands with his Uncle, Capt. (ret.) Guy Gruters, after Guy's speech Jan. 22, 2014, at Airman Leadership School on Fort George G. Meade, Md. Peter joined the Air Force to continue his famed uncle's legacy. Peter is the director of operations with the 34th Intelligence Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Samuel Daub)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        Maj. Peter Gruters introduces his famed uncle, Capt. (ret.) Guy Gruters, prior to Guy's speech at Airman Leadership School Jan. 22, 2014, at Fort George G. Meade, Md. Guy sat for nearly five and a half years as a prisoner of war at the notorious Hanoi Hilton. Peter is the director of operations with the 34th Intelligence Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Samuel Daub)140122-F-UV300-001
                        
                        
                        Maj. Peter Gruters introduces his famed uncle, Capt. (ret.) Guy Gruters, prior to Guy's speech at Airman Leadership School Jan. 22, 2014, at Fort George G. Meade, Md. Guy sat for nearly five and a half years as a prisoner of war at the notorious Hanoi Hilton. Peter is the director of operations with the 34th Intelligence Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Samuel Daub)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        Guy Gruters speaks to an Airman Leadership School class Jan. 22 2014, at Fort George G. Meade, Md, about his experience as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam. Gruters, a former pilot, was shot down in 1967 and sat for nearly five and a half years at the notorious Hanoi Hilton. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Zachary Vucic)140122-F-VN441-002
                        
                        
                        Guy Gruters speaks to an Airman Leadership School class Jan. 22 2014, at Fort George G. Meade, Md, about his experience as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam. Gruters, a former pilot, was shot down in 1967 and sat for nearly five and a half years at the notorious Hanoi Hilton. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Zachary Vucic)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res

POW's legacy helps nephew in leadership rolesPublished Jan. 28, 2014
                    
                    By Senior Airman Zachary Vucic
                    
                    
                    Air Force News Service
            **FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. (AFNS) --**Military tradition runs deep in some families, with generation after generation raising their right hand and swearing to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. One family however, has continued to put its mark on military service even after inconceivable anguish struck during the Vietnam War.
In December 1967, the family was informed that one of their own, Capt. Guy Gruters, had been shot down and was now a prisoner of war. Guy sat for nearly five and a half years as a POW, with a portion of that span being at the notorious Hanoi Hilton in North Vietnam. He endured extreme temperatures, torture, isolation and horrid living conditions.
Today, more than 46 years after Guy’s capture, a Gruters family member has taken those lessons of fortitude, honor, valor, selflessness and teamwork to continue his legacy in Air Force service.Maj. Peter Gruters is the director of operations with the 34th Intelligence Squadron at Fort George G. Meade, Md., and nephew of the man who would be the inspiration for his Air Force career.
“The Airman’s Creed sums it up: I am faithful to a proud heritage, a tradition of honor and a legacy of valor,” said the younger Gruters. “It was my turn to stand up and carry on that tradition.”
Now, as a leader in his own right, Peter uses his uncle’s experience as a lesson in perspective for both himself, and the Airmen he leads. He said the lessons learned from how the POWs united and functioned in extreme austere conditions exemplify the teamwork needed in today’s Air Force.
“Whatever situation I’m going through, I know there’s a worse situation out there,” he said.
His interest in leadership stuck early in his career when he studied the subject in pursuit of a master’s degree. After being given a leadership role within an intelligence squadron, he was hooked.
“I was only going to (serve) for four years,” Peter said, adding that he intended to move back to his home state of Florida. “I stayed in because I got to lead Airmen. I came in because of family, but I stayed in because of the Airmen.”
The perspective of what his uncle went through is something he carries with him and passes on to Airmen.
“I have incredibly big shoes to fill,” Peter said. “I’m never going to reach to (Uncle Guy’s) level ... but the one thing I do have is a positive role model and a positive example to strive for.”
Thinking of the family history, he said his mother wasn’t keen on the idea of him joining.His famed uncle however said he was “ecstatic” about Peter being the first of 20 cousins to join the service – “Especially about the Air Force.”
Peter has deployed five times in his career and earned various awards along the way, including a Bronze Star medal. He said he has no intention of attempting to duplicate his Uncle’s achievements, but he pushes every day to live up to his family legacy and lead his Airmennephew 



squadron commander 



legacy 



lessons learned 



POW

Related Links
        Faith in captivity: Vietnam War POW inspires Airmen Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                SecAF, CSAF, CMSAF begin Indo-Pacific trip focused on ACE
                    
                    DAF leaders talk budget, reoptimizing the force
                    
                    DAF leaders speak at National Character and Leadership Symposium
                    
                    DAF members recognized during BEYA STEM awards
                    
                    DAF senior enlisted advisors discuss Airmen, Guardians in the fightInnovation
                F-16s arrive to be modified for autonomous testing
                    
                    AFWERX director discusses role of tech startups, quick innovation in Great Power Competition
                    
                    DAF delivers lethality at the speed of data during Project Convergence Capstone 4
                    
                    DAF welcomes industry partners to HQ development program
                    
                    DAF announces Spark Tank 2024 finalistsMAJCOM News
                Safety enterprise announces new mission, vision, goals in 2024 strategic plan
                    
                    Air Combat Command welcomes new commander
                    
                    USAFE-AFAFRICA commander discusses Integrated Air, Missile Defense during Munich Security Conference
                    
                    Flosi to AFMC family: Embrace change, make every day count
                    
                    AMC rises to increasing global tension
 Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil