general_issue_blues

George Michael "Sonny" Gratzer was born in Eveleth, Minnesota on 5 May 1940, and raised
from infancy in Butte, Montana. A graduate of Butte Public High School and the University of
Montana (BA History '63, MFA-Creative Writing '76), he was commissioned a US Army Officer
in ROTC. He completed Airborne and Ranger training at Fort Benning, GA. He served with the
4th Armored Division in Germany where he commanded Co B, 2nd Bn, 54th Inf and later was Bn
XO of the same unit and was awarded the Expert Infantryman's Badge and the Army
Commendation Medal. A trip to Panama earned him the Jungle Expert Patch. He then served in
the 1st Infantry Division in Viet Nam where he commanded Co B, 2nd Bn, 2nd Inf. His other
military decorations and awards include the Silver Star (1st Oak leaf Cluster) Soldiers Medal,
Bronze Star w/Valor (1st Oak leaf Cluster) Purple Heart (1st & 2nd Oak Leaf Clusters), Army
Commendation Medal (1st & 2nd Oak Leaf Clusters), Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry (Silver and
Gold Stars), National Defense Service Ribbon, Vietnamese Campaign Ribbon w/2 stars, the
Vietnamese Service Medal w/device, and the Combat Infantryman's Badge. He was medically
retired as a Captain in 1968. He is a Life Member of the VFW, ROA, MOAA, DAV, MOPH,
American Legion, US Army Ranger Association, Honorary Life Member of The Khe Sanh
Veterans, NRA, PVA, and is a 32 degree Scottish Rite Freemason. Sonny has four grown
children - Kurt, Dana, Mike, Rachel - and nine grand kids. He writes stories, poems and songs at
homes in Missoula, MT and Finley Point on Flathead Lake.