Bo Gritz, a decorated Vietnam War veteran who became a controversial figure in right-wing anti-government circles, died on Feb. 27 at his home in Sandy Valley, Nevada. He was 87. His wife, Judy Gritz, announced his death on Facebook without specifying a cause.

Gritz, often compared to fictional characters like John Rambo and Colonel Kurtz, served four tours in Vietnam as a Green Beret and received over 60 medals. However, his military record later came under scrutiny, with former comrades questioning the validity of some awards. His post-war career included failed attempts to find American prisoners of war in Laos and a shift toward anti-government activism.

In the 1980s and 1990s, Gritz became prominent in far-right politics, running for president in 1992 on the Populist Party ticket. He founded a community in northern Idaho called Almost Heaven, attracting Christian nationalists and anti-government militants. Gritz's life exemplified the intersection of Vietnam War trauma and anti-government sentiment that would later influence American extremist movements.