Fred, I could say so much about this lovely friend of mine who was born five days after me. So much! I remember him proclaiming before he shipped off to Vietnam, "It would be an honor to die for my country if need be." Fred and I first met at Wilson Jr High. Our friendship developed over the years and we worked together at the Clean 'N Clear Pool Company in Arcadia. I actually took over his position when he went into the U.S. Army a year before I did. We laughed a lot, did silly things and explored the sixties together. The music, the politics, the various dance steps, sports and more. We fished Baja California off the coast of Ensenada and many other things. We often got ourselves into mischief. I want to thank you for the good times we had together. I offer my respect and I honor you for giving the ultimate sacrifice for your country, your life. I've visited your white stone epitaph which stands boldly at the Golden Gate National Military Cemetery just south of San Francisco at 1300 Sneath Lane a few times. It's my way of still paying my respects.
Freddie was the only friend I had that died during the war in Viet Nam. We were buddies at Wilson Jr. High then drifted apart during PHS. When I first heard of his death was like a punch in the gut. I felt bad we never had a chance to say goodbye.
In the 1990's on a visit to Washington DC I went to the VietNam Memorial; "The Wall". It took quite a while as the names are arranged chronologically by date of casualty not in alphabetical order and I was not sure when he was killed. But out of the 58,286 names I found Fred Gruber.
Freddie was really a great guy with a wonderful sense of humor. We use to hang out in Sierra Madre after school from time to time. He was also one of my only friends that was taken from the Vietnam war. Missed by all who knew him.
Fred was the first person I knew to die in VietNam. Such a great guy My memory was of Wayne Covert, Fred and I at Newport Beach. We got caught in one of those horrendous waves All of us were churning When we got out and caught our breath we were able to laugh and say Boy that was some water ballet Lost way way too young
I visited the traveling Vietnam War Memorial Wall this past week (2/11/24) while it was on Maui. Seeing Fred's name carved into the wall was an emotional experience. He and I got to know each other during junior high school PE where we shared an interest in pole vaulting. Like others who have written here, Fred was a good friend, a solid guy and the only classmate I know who died during the war. I've never forgotten him.
Daniel Brownell
Fred Gruber gave his life in service to the United States of America, December 1, 1968.
"In death a hero, as in life a friend." Homer
.
Joel Olinger
Fred, I could say so much about this lovely friend of mine who was born five days after me. So much! I remember him proclaiming before he shipped off to Vietnam, "It would be an honor to die for my country if need be." Fred and I first met at Wilson Jr High. Our friendship developed over the years and we worked together at the Clean 'N Clear Pool Company in Arcadia. I actually took over his position when he went into the U.S. Army a year before I did. We laughed a lot, did silly things and explored the sixties together. The music, the politics, the various dance steps, sports and more. We fished Baja California off the coast of Ensenada and many other things. We often got ourselves into mischief. I want to thank you for the good times we had together. I offer my respect and I honor you for giving the ultimate sacrifice for your country, your life. I've visited your white stone epitaph which stands boldly at the Golden Gate National Military Cemetery just south of San Francisco at 1300 Sneath Lane a few times. It's my way of still paying my respects.
Douglas Ingoldsby
Freddie was the only friend I had that died during the war in Viet Nam. We were buddies at Wilson Jr. High then drifted apart during PHS. When I first heard of his death was like a punch in the gut. I felt bad we never had a chance to say goodbye.
In the 1990's on a visit to Washington DC I went to the VietNam Memorial; "The Wall". It took quite a while as the names are arranged chronologically by date of casualty not in alphabetical order and I was not sure when he was killed. But out of the 58,286 names I found Fred Gruber.
I put my hand on his name and said my goodbye.
Donald Partch
Freddie was really a great guy with a wonderful sense of humor. We use to hang out in Sierra Madre after school from time to time. He was also one of my only friends that was taken from the Vietnam war. Missed by all who knew him.
Diane Ryman (Conklin)
Fred was the first person I knew to die in VietNam. Such a great guy My memory was of Wayne Covert, Fred and I at Newport Beach. We got caught in one of those horrendous waves All of us were churning When we got out and caught our breath we were able to laugh and say Boy that was some water ballet Lost way way too young
Mark Hyde
I visited the traveling Vietnam War Memorial Wall this past week (2/11/24) while it was on Maui. Seeing Fred's name carved into the wall was an emotional experience. He and I got to know each other during junior high school PE where we shared an interest in pole vaulting. Like others who have written here, Fred was a good friend, a solid guy and the only classmate I know who died during the war. I've never forgotten him.