Biography written by Brandy Porter and Annalee Miller
Rick Gruwell was born on November 11, 1954, in Franklin, Nebraska, to Don and Barbara Gruwell. Don was a construction worker, so his family frequently moved as Don worked at different construction sites. Rick grew up with one brother and three sisters.
Growing up, Rick loved to play sports, football and baseball specifically. He continued to play wherever he lived, even though he moved many times. In addition to playing sports, he also liked to hunt, fish, and ride horses in nearby areas.
Young Rick at the begining of his service
Rick recalled that he did not like school and said that he was an average student. Rick went to Downs, Kansas, for the first half of kindergarten and then to northern Nebraska for the second half of kindergarten. Next, he went to a town in central Nebraska for first and second grades. After that, he went to St. Paul, Nebraska, for third through sixth grades. Later on, he went to Long Island, Kansas, for seventh grade. Soon after, he attended Waconda East High School in Cawker City, Kansas, where he graduated. Unfortunately, Rick did not have an opportunity to go to college.
Rick knew he would get drafted since his number, which was sixteen, was about to be called. He wanted to pick which branch he served in; therefore, Rick enlisted in the Navy in the middle of the Vietnam War at the young age of seventeen. He left for basic training in May of 1972.
Getting to the basic training camp was a journey. Rick flew to the sandy beaches of San Diego, California, bringing a few of his belongings, and did not return home until November 8th, 1975.
San Diego, California, where Rick completed basic training.
Basic training was not so basic for Rick. It lasted seven weeks. Rick recalled that everyone had to get up at 5:00 A.M. to train and work until 9:00 P.M. Most sailors had to make meals for the six thousand men there. The worst part was that they also had to do the dishes for those six thousand people. Fortunately, Rick sorted fruits and vegetables, and he even had some free time.
Left to right: Barb, Rick's mom; Rick; and Ron, Rick's brother
Later, Rick was sent to a training school to save downed pilots on land and in the sea. He was put on the ocean side of training. The requirements were difficult, and the first thing their instructor said was that 94 percent of them would fail. The sailors had to complete many hard tasks including swimming two and a half miles in everyday clothing, like t-shirts and jeans, without stopping. Only five sailors out of twenty-eight finished; Rick came in fourth. Two out of the five were mailed a letter. It stated that they qualified to train for the Navy Seals. Rick was one of the two; however, he was not interested.
During Rick’s time on the Navy ships, he was on the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team. He took care of the basic operations on the ship, such as the steering and other simple tasks, as well as working at the gunnery range. He also ran torpedoes and stood guard. He then set sea in the Vietnam War Zone for three months. The sailors withstood many typhoons and hurricanes where waves were occasionally forty feet high! During this time they also saved some refugees from North and South Vietnam. They flew some out on helicopters and sailed others on ships.
One of the ships Rick sailed on during his service
When Rick was discharged from the military, he left Clark Air Base in the Philippines. His wife, Mary Jo, picked him up from the airport when he got back. He then returned to Glen Elder and started working at Cunningham Telephone. Later, he began working for the city of Glen Elder and then finally ended up at the Kansas Gas Company, where he worked for twenty-eight years.
Rick and his wife Mary Jo have been blessed with one daughter, Sarah Miller, and one son, Andrew Gruwell. He also has five grandchildren: Tyron, Emma, Annalee, Easton, and Mazie, and two great-grandchildren: Ryker and Jaxtyn.
Rick is now retired but still helps out at the city of Glen Elder during the summer. He also stays busy by working different jobs around the farm and taking care of his horses. Currently, Rick belongs to the American Legion and VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars). Rick said his favorite hobbies are working and traveling. He has been to twenty different countries.