When I received the sad news of the passing of Sergeant James 
“Youngblood” Gruseck of Pittsburgh, PA, I instinctively knew that I should pay my respects in person to Jim’s family.  Jim served with the Bobcats  in “A” company, 1st Battalion (Mechanized) 5th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division.
     On my six hour trip from the Eastern Shore of Maryland to Pittsburgh, I had ample time to recall the numerous combat actions to include the “Battle of Ben Cui” for which the battalion received the Presidential Unit Citation.  The Army’s highest unit award recognized and honored the heroic actions of men like Sergeant Gruseck aka “Youngblood”.
     At the Simons funeral home, while in discussions with Jim’s wife 
Denise, brothers Dan and Bernard, son Jimmy, mother Peggy, and nephews and nieces,  Jim was described as a standup guy.  He was one who could make things happen, an individual ready to step forward and make a positive contribution to  whatever  the  situation  required. I had in essence joined hundreds of mourners who’s lives were touched by Jim in some manner.  His extended family, fellow veterans, coworkers from the boilermakers union, postal workers, neighbors and friends, all came in droves to pay their respects.  The viewing Sunday and  Monday clearly showed the high regard afforded Jim in his passing.   As many who knew him were aware, he suffered a debilitating illness for years that sapped his strength bit by bit  to the point where he could no longer endure the pain and he succumbed on the day after Thanksgiving.
     During the viewing you could see how proud Jim was of his service in the Army and that he was following in the footsteps of his  late father Bernard who served as a combat medic during W.W.II. Pinned on Jim’s chest was a Combat Infantryman Badge and the Distinctive Unit Insignia of the 5th Infantry.  Within the coffin was a picture of Jim taken in Vietnam with his track crew  along with his Bobcat hat and challenge coin.  The viewing room was lined with numerous floral tributes with banners  including “Youngblood”.  In the evening, Jim’s fellow boilermakers conducted a unique ritual and presented Denise with a bible in a nice presentation box.  Several family members said that Jim really enjoyed his work in fabricating tubing and other apparatus utilized in nuclear power plant operations.
     On Tuesday morning, six pallbearers (brothers, sons and nephews) carried Jim to a waiting hearse.  Two dozen cars marked with funeral pendants and with flashers on followed the hearse to St. Aloysius church.  Two priests conducted the Mass of Christian Burial that 
included a communion offering.  Jody, one of Jim’s  nieces  gave  a homily  that   was  very   heartwarming and poignant.  She remarked that Uncle Jim was always available to help others in projects of all kinds.  In getting things done,  she said: “There was the wrong way, 
the right way and then Uncle Jim’s way”.  There was no question as to how much love and respect the Gruseck family had for their Jim.
     From the church it was on to the “Christ our Redeemer” cemetery on what must be the highest hill surrounding Pittsburgh.  There the pallbearers carried Jim to the grave site.  A major and a master sergeant from the Army Reserve 99th Division conducted the military 
portion of the internment.  They crisply folded the American flag into its triangular  configuration and presented the flag to Denise followed by the solemn playing of taps.  This is the most emotional part of any Veterans funeral and there are very few dry eyes among the mourners.
     As I said farewell to Jim’s family, I mentioned that Jim  called in the medievac when I was hit by an RPG while on my track.  As I was bleeding  from numerous open wounds, Jim helped to load me on the chopper for the flight to the 12th Evac Hospital at Cu Chi.  So I said 
in parting: ”Jim was there for me when I needed him, and here I am for him and his family today,   for whatever consolation I can provide”.
     Rest in Peace Jim, for sooner or later, we will all meet again at the “Bunker”.

Andy Anderson
Bobcat Six - 1968