Colonel John Paul Gritz was commissioned an Infantry Officer upon graduation from Officer Candidate School Class 25-67 on 27 April 1967. His first duty assignment was as XO, SFODA-64, Company E, 7th Special Forces Group (Abn), Fort Bragg, North Carolina. | His subsequent duty assignments include: Commander SFODA-64, Company E, 7th SFG (A), Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Student Defense Language Institute (Vietnamese), Biggs Field, Texas; XO, SFODA 253, Company B, 5th SFG(A), Duc Co, Vietnam; Cdr, SFODA 233, Company B, 5th SFG(A), Ban Don, Vietnam; OIC, Drill Sergeant Course, Fort Ord, California; Cdr, Company A, 1st Bn, 3d Bde (BCT), Fort Ord, California; S1/XO, 1st Bn, 5th SFG(A), Fort Bragg, North Carolina;J3 Ground Plans Officer, Hq UNorth Carolina /U.S. FK/EUSA, Seoul, Korea; Dep Director Admin and Services, Sierra Army Depot, Herlong, California; Emergency Actions Officer, EAO, CIndianaorth Carolina PAC Airborne Command Post, Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii; S3/XO, 1st Bn, 27th Infantry (Wolfhounds), Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; Ground Opns Officer, Special Operations Command Europe, Stuttgart, Germany; Commander, D Company, 3d Bn, 1st SFGeorgia, Fort Lewis, Washington; Chief, Joint Actions/SOF Branch, HQDA ODCSOPS, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.; and Inspector General, 6th Army, Presidio of San Francisco, California. | Colonel Gritz holds a BA Degree from San Diego State University and an Massachusetts from Central Michigan University. Military schools attended include: Airborne, Ranger, Special Forces, Jumpmaster, Defense Language Institute, Infantry Officer Advanced Course, HAlabamaO/HAHO, Marine Command and Staff College, Air War College and Army War College. | His awards and decorations include: Bronze Star for Valor w/ 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal w/ 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, Service Commendation Medal w/ 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Air Crewmember, Special Forces and Ranger Tabs, Master Parachutist and Jumpwings from Vietnam, Germany, Thailand, Greece, Spain, Portugal, and Belgium.