Scott AFB pays tribute to veteran who co-founded its Retiree Activities Program Published Feb. 24, 2016 By retired Senior Master Sgt Henry J. Barajas Scott AFB Retiree Activities Office deputy director SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- Retired Lt. Col. LeRoy (Roy) Gruber, an active senior staff member of the Scott Air Force Base Retiree Activities Office, passed away Jan. 28 at Meridian Village, in Glen Carbon Illinois, at the age of 95. Born on Aug. 10, 1920, in Washburn, Wis., Gruber became a pioneer Airman and a founding member of the Scott AFB Retiree Activities Program in January 1979. He contributed many firsts that have added to the rich, long and storied history of Scott Air Force Base, and was an active contributor until his passing. When he arrived in the Metro-East region approximately 35 years ago, Gruber brought a refreshing and new luster and gave a profound meaning to the word "volunteerism." He truly personified the absolute best in his sincere expression to willingly undertake any service, provide any assistance, and do whatever it took or was necessary for God and Country, the U.S. Air Force, veterans, his fellow retirees and families, and his community. Gruber served as Scott's Military Retiree Newsletter's editor in chief and as a retiree service officer. His volunteer duties and responsibilities included assisting the director and deputy director with the leadership, administration and management of the Scott RAO business activities, program operations and the Scott AFB Retiree Activities Council. He assisted retirees and family members of all branches of the uniformed services with information, counseling, services and referrals on retiree benefits, casualty assistance, TRICARE information and assistance entitlements and programs, on-base functions and services, events and base facilities. He also liaised on behalf of the director and deputy, and assisted on program awareness, outreach and business operations improvements, and performed other duties as required or directed by the program director or deputy. Gruber impacted the morale and welfare of base personnel, roughly 26,000 military retirees living in the greater Scott AFB and surrounding community, encompassing Southern Illinois, Eastern Missouri, Southern Indiana and Western Kentucky, with his volunteer service and commitment. As a member of the "Greatest Generation," he grew-up during the Great Depression and knew the meaning of sacrifice, both in terms of material possessions and of real blood, sweat, and tears. He was a humble man who never bragged about what he had done or been through. He was loyal, patriotic, and level-headed. He was a World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War veteran. During World War II, Gruber was a B-17, Flying Fortress navigator, which was a key aircraft bomber, employed by the Army Air Forces, during the early and later stages of the war. He served his country with bravery, distinction and honor, as well in the ensuing Korean and Vietnam Wars. Upon retirement from the USAF, he held various government positions that led him to the Heartland of America, where he and his family settled in the Illinois Metro-East. Motivated with a desire to serve his country in some capacity as a volunteer, Gruber came to Scott AFB, where he helped establish the Scott AFB Retiree Activities Program. His vision, understanding, and leadership were instrumental in getting the program successfully underway. Accordingly, he ensured that the new Scott AFB Retiree Activities Office was staffed with trained volunteers, equipped properly with required directives and operating instructions, office supplies and equipment, appropriate furnishings and communications, and located at a site that was easily accessible to our retirees and their families. Gruber also created the quarterly newsletter for the military retiree community, "The Military Retiree." Not only did he develop the layout, design, and content management and secured relevant articles and information, but he coordinated the free printing of the newsletter by the Belleville News-Democrat, saving the Air Force thousands of dollars over the years. Thanks to his vision, many of the Scott AFB's 26,000 retirees received the newsletter as a source of information affecting them and their families. He helped establish and develop the Scott AFB Retiree Activities Council, which meets monthly and addresses items that affect the military retired community. The council also coordinates with the Air Force Retiree Council for information, consideration or action. He ensured members were provided appropriate, required orientations, training, or briefings such as Equal Employment Opportunity, Information Security Assurance Awareness. Gruber also ensured that meetings were open to all active-duty personnel, retired, soon-to-be retired, family members, or interested persons. Because of his efforts, guest speakers were also featured to talk about subjects of mutual interest or importance. Since the establishment in 1979 of the Scott AFB Retiree Activities Program and its use as an integral base service function on Scott AFB, Gruber worked tirelessly as a volunteer with great care, personal sacrifice and diligence to provide needed service and assistance to ensure a quality life for military retirees, spouses, widows, widowers and their families. He had, over the years, committed all available program resources to support, advance, and to unify the military retired and active duty communities through his example of positive volunteerism and service. He reminded the retiree community that their service was not forgotten, and that we remain dedicated and united to serve them and their families. Gruber was the living embodiment of the motto of the U.S. Air Force Retiree Activities Program, "Still Serving." He cared, and it showed. Gruber was awarded the prestigious and high-honor, "Certificate of Appreciation," by the USAF Retiree Council as the, "2011 Volunteer of the Year," in recognition of his body of work and dedicated service to the USAF. The award was presented by the Scott AFB Installation Commander at the "Annual Scott AFB Retiree Appreciation Day" event, which honors all military retirees for their loyal and dedicated service to the nation. Although the aforementioned actions are just a partial resume of Gruber's remarkable accomplishments, they were truly indicative of his normal daily achievements and beliefs throughout his years of volunteer service at Scott AFB, and helped stabilize our military community by contributing to community cohesion, increasing self-reliance and enhancing the well-being of our active-duty military and their families. He strongly believed that "innovation, communication, and excellence" were fundamental to ensuring successful outcomes. Accordingly, this has had a profound and positive impact on the Scott AFB Retiree Activities Program to build further its base of good service and expand its contribution capability. Moreover, they reflect the time-honored traditions of the service and epitomize the USAF core value of "Service Before Self," that greatly contributed to the defense and security of the homeland, and the mission, goals, and objectives of the USAF, the USAF Retiree Activities Program and of a gallant "American Airman," who served his God and Country well. On behalf of the retired military volunteer men and women and family members who comprised the staff of the Scott AFB Retiree Activities Office, 375th Air Mobility Wing, we wish to extend our deepest condolences and heartfelt sympathy to the Gruber family. He truly was a special and remarkable human being, proud member of the Profession of Arms, and loyal, dedicated member and will be sadly missed. Gruber was interred at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, St. Louis, Mo., with full military honors.