SSG Leo Gruba Named 37th Anderson Military Citizen Awardee

(l to r) Serena Gruba, SSG Leo Gruba and Amber Young, ACU

The recipient of the John Anderson Award for Military Citizen of the Year is Staff Sergeant Leo Gruba.

SSG Gruba’s efforts are focused on different fronts. In 2014, he was selected by his command to participate in a PBS two-hour special, which allowed the audience to see the inside of the file of a military member.  He and his family allowed cameras and strangers into their personal lives to record the joys, tears and challenges that define military families everywhere.

SSG Gruba is a member of American Legion Post 53 in DuPont.  These last two years, he helped with their annual scholarship program for soldiers, valued at thousands of dollars.

As a member of the Association of the United States Army, SSG Gruba worked an estimated 60 hours for Operation Turkey Drop and Ham Grenade for donated gifts during the holidays to active, Guard and Reserve families.

SSG Gruba also devoted an estimated 100 hours for time and mentorship at Clhoe Clark Elementary PTA where he serves as Vice President. He is responsible for fundraisers and school events for students and families.

He volunteers time at the Fisher House, which provides a “home away from home” for families with patients at Madigan Army Medical Center.  Similarly, he is the liaison  between his command and the Family Readiness Group, geared toward strengthening the Army Family Concept.

As a member of the DuPont Historical Society, he volunteered about 60 hours to plan the movement of the Society’s property from JBLM to the museum.

And, he is the Wolf Den Leader of pack 472, Boy Scouts of American, volunteering abut 100 hours.

He belongs to the Patriots Athletic League, volunteering as machine pitch and tee ball coach; as a Lion’s Club member he has worked on several projects in DuPont, including their I-5 “Adopt a Highway” clean-up project.

This past summer, SSG Gruba worked with DuPont businesses to collect and distribute comfort items to firefighters and National Guardsmen assisting in the complex wildfires throughout Washington.

Currently, he is working with the American Legion to organize a “Veterans Walk” this December in DuPont.

SSG Gruba is an excellent selection for the John H. Anderson Military-Citizen of the Year Award.  The many hours he has donated to our community will be appreciated for years to come.

About the Award

The Tacoma-Pierce Co. Chamber's presentation of the John H. Anderson Military Citizen of the Year Award to the outstanding military was begun to commemorate the civic contributions by our resident military personnel. 

About John H. Anderson

John H. Anderson served as Tacoma’s mayor in the early to mid-1950s. He was also a past Chair of the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber Board of Directors, as well as a successful local businessman.  

About the Award Sponsor

America’s Credit Union has been serving the military here at Joint base Lewis McChord (JBLM) since 1954; ACU has been active in creating a community that is aware of soldiers needs and able to serve our military who give so much for all of us. The Award was presented by Amber Young, ACU.