Peter Alan Gruca was born on January 31, 1959, in Quantico, VA, to Adam Peter Gruca Sr. and Nina Coates Gruca. Pete grew up with two sisters, Linda and Debbie, and one brother, Adam Jr. (Jay). He was the second oldest. Pete’s father retired from the US Marine Corps after more than twenty years of service in 1964. In 1964, the Gruca family moved to Port Reading, New Jersey. His home of record is Port Reading, NJ. He graduated from Woodbridge High School in June 1968.
Pete was athletic and very good at sports. Although he didn’t play baseball in high school, he did play for the Woodbridge Babe Ruth League. In the 60s, the high schools had fraternities and sororities. Pete belonged to the Dukes. He was very popular with his friends and had a great sense of humor. Pete’s friends from the neighborhood where he lived on 5th Avenue in Port Reading were another group of friends with whom he shared a lot of great and mischievous times. On June 6, 1966, Pete and his friends vowed that future reunions of their corner group would occur when the calendar turned 7-7-77, 8-8-88, etc. To this day, the original group, plus siblings and other neighborhood friends, have continued that tradition.
Gruca enlisted in the US Marine Corps and attained the rank of Private First Class (PFC). He completed boot camp from January to March of 1969 at Parris Island, SC, and was assigned to Platoon 102, 1st Battalion “C” Company. After attending specialized training, he was sent to Camp Pendleton, CA in mid-May.
Gruca left for Vietnam on July 4, 1969, where he was stationed in Quang Tin Province. He was attached to 1st Combined Action Group, Combined Action Program 1-1-5. Pete had to learn the basics of the Vietnamese language in order to teach and train the Vietnamese soldiers in combat. He maintained his close relationship with his family and friends via weekly letters to and from home.
On November 22, 1969, Gruca was killed in action. His body was returned home one week later.
Sources: John F Kennedy Memorial High School and NJVVMF.
12/17/2024
