Godspeed Colonel Ripley

Posted By Blackfive

I wrote this in honor of the Marine Corps birthday in 2005:

You've heard of Chesty, Lejeune and others.  You probably haven't heard of John Ripley...

He's a hero that I've admired for a long time and someone that you should know.

He wrote "Hallowed Ground" for this month's Marine Corps Gazette (page 22).

A Marine hero and the first Marine inducted into the Ranger Hall of Fame, Colonel John Ripley passed away in his sleep this weekend.

Many of you probably don't know who John Ripley is.  That is due, agreeing with John Donovan, to the fact that in 1972, no one cared what was happening in Viet Nam. 

Ripley was an advisor of a South Vietnamese Army Battalion that was told to "Hold and Die in Place" in order to stop a huge armored column trying to invade the South during the Easter Offensive.  The only way to stop that column was to blow up two bridges.  Go here to read one of the better write ups of Ripley and the bridge.

The truth is that the war would have been drawn to an extremely bloodier conclusion in 1972 had Colonel Ripley not stopped 20,000 NVA.

Navy Cross Citation, USMC Captain John W. Ripley, Advisor, 3rd Vietnamese Marine Corps Infantry Bn.

The Navy Cross is awarded to Captain John W. Ripley, United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism on 2 April 1972 while serving as the Senior Marine Advisor to the Third Vietnamese Marine Corps Infantry Battalion in the Republic of Vietnam.

Upon receipt of a report that a rapidly moving, mechanized, North Vietnamese army force, estimated at reinforced divisional strength, was attacking south along Route #1, the Third Vietnamese Marine Infantry Battalion was positioned to defend a key village and the surrounding area.

It became imperative that a vital river bridge be destroyed if the overall security of the northern provinces of Military Region One was to be maintained.

Advancing to the bridge to personally supervise this most dangerous but vitally important assignment, Captain Ripley located a large amount of explosives which had been prepositioned there earlier, access to which was blocked by a chain-link fence.

In order to reposition the approximately 500 pounds of explosives, Captain Ripley was obliged to reach up and hand-walk along the beams while his body dangled beneath the bridge.

On five separate occasions, in the face of constant enemy fire, he moved to points along the bridge and, with the aid of another advisor who pushed the explosives to him, securely emplaced them.

He then detonated the charges and destroyed the bridge, thereby stopping the enemy assault.

By his heroic actions and extraordinary courage, Captain Ripley undoubtedly was instrumental in saving an untold number of lives. His inspiring efforts reflected great credit upon himself, the Marine Corps, and the United States Naval Service.

And here's the Naval Institute's video "Americans at War" about Colonel Ripley.

Godspeed, Sir.

Update:  Corporal Seamus, a good friend of Colonel Ripley, sends an email of how he sees the Colonel entering Heaven.

I just got back from Annapolis, where we did a Steaks & Beers for 53 prior service Marines, who are now Midshipmen at the Naval Academy.  This was at Col Mike and Janet P's house in Annapolis.  Along with LtCol Frank D and his family, Col Ripley was supposed to be there.

I called Col Ripley on Saturday to ask him if he would like me to pick him up on Sunday afternoon, and bring him to the P's and then bring him back to his home...  I know he did not like to drive at night, and we just lost an hour of daylight.  His home phone and cell phone were both busy throughout the day, and I did not get to speak with the Colonel.  It was a sad evening at the P's house.

Now, up with Sky-6, I figure Col Truman Crawford was busy helping his very good friend, Gen Barrow, getting snapped in for duty There.  Of course, Sergeants Major Denis McNamara and Russ Rockwell were there lending assistance with Col Crawford and our 27th Commandant.  As this operation is going down, along comes a Quad Body Marine, straight up from Post # 3, US Naval Academy.  Col John Ripley reporting for duty.

A Quad Body denotes full training with Reconnaissance Marines, Army Rangers, Army Airborne, and British Royal Marines.  Besides being one of the good guys, this helps define Col John Ripley.  Col Ripley also had more sea stories than any Marine I have ever known.

So, with Gen Barrow, Col Crawford and Col Ripley, and the two Sergeants Major all milling around and giving orders as to how to set the Guard Mount for the Pearly Gates, it was SgtMaj Rockwell who told all hands that, "He and SgtMaj Mac would handle Post # 1, so why don't you Officers just take a walk over to the Club and let us E-9's do our job!"  The correct response to that is, "Very well Sergeant Major!"

I truly miss these guys!

Semper Fi,

Seamus

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Godspeed Colonel Ripley

I wrote this in honor of the Marine Corps birthday in 2005:

You've heard of Chesty, Lejeune and others.  You probably haven't heard of John Ripley...

He's a hero that I've admired for a long time and someone that you should know.

He wrote "Hallowed Ground" for this month's Marine Corps Gazette (page 22).

A Marine hero and the first Marine inducted into the Ranger Hall of Fame, Colonel John Ripley passed away in his sleep this weekend.

Many of you probably don't know who John Ripley is.  That is due, agreeing with John Donovan, to the fact that in 1972, no one cared what was happening in Viet Nam. 

Ripley was an advisor of a South Vietnamese Army Battalion that was told to "Hold and Die in Place" in order to stop a huge armored column trying to invade the South during the Easter Offensive.  The only way to stop that column was to blow up two bridges.  Go here to read one of the better write ups of Ripley and the bridge.

The truth is that the war would have been drawn to an extremely bloodier conclusion in 1972 had Colonel Ripley not stopped 20,000 NVA.

Navy Cross Citation, USMC Captain John W. Ripley, Advisor, 3rd Vietnamese Marine Corps Infantry Bn.

The Navy Cross is awarded to Captain John W. Ripley, United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism on 2 April 1972 while serving as the Senior Marine Advisor to the Third Vietnamese Marine Corps Infantry Battalion in the Republic of Vietnam.

Upon receipt of a report that a rapidly moving, mechanized, North Vietnamese army force, estimated at reinforced divisional strength, was attacking south along Route #1, the Third Vietnamese Marine Infantry Battalion was positioned to defend a key village and the surrounding area.

It became imperative that a vital river bridge be destroyed if the overall security of the northern provinces of Military Region One was to be maintained.

Advancing to the bridge to personally supervise this most dangerous but vitally important assignment, Captain Ripley located a large amount of explosives which had been prepositioned there earlier, access to which was blocked by a chain-link fence.

In order to reposition the approximately 500 pounds of explosives, Captain Ripley was obliged to reach up and hand-walk along the beams while his body dangled beneath the bridge.

On five separate occasions, in the face of constant enemy fire, he moved to points along the bridge and, with the aid of another advisor who pushed the explosives to him, securely emplaced them.

He then detonated the charges and destroyed the bridge, thereby stopping the enemy assault.

By his heroic actions and extraordinary courage, Captain Ripley undoubtedly was instrumental in saving an untold number of lives. His inspiring efforts reflected great credit upon himself, the Marine Corps, and the United States Naval Service.

And here's the Naval Institute's video "Americans at War" about Colonel Ripley.

Godspeed, Sir.

Update:  Corporal Seamus, a good friend of Colonel Ripley, sends an email of how he sees the Colonel entering Heaven.

I just got back from Annapolis, where we did a Steaks & Beers for 53 prior service Marines, who are now Midshipmen at the Naval Academy.  This was at Col Mike and Janet P's house in Annapolis.  Along with LtCol Frank D and his family, Col Ripley was supposed to be there.

I called Col Ripley on Saturday to ask him if he would like me to pick him up on Sunday afternoon, and bring him to the P's and then bring him back to his home...  I know he did not like to drive at night, and we just lost an hour of daylight.  His home phone and cell phone were both busy throughout the day, and I did not get to speak with the Colonel.  It was a sad evening at the P's house.

Now, up with Sky-6, I figure Col Truman Crawford was busy helping his very good friend, Gen Barrow, getting snapped in for duty There.  Of course, Sergeants Major Denis McNamara and Russ Rockwell were there lending assistance with Col Crawford and our 27th Commandant.  As this operation is going down, along comes a Quad Body Marine, straight up from Post # 3, US Naval Academy.  Col John Ripley reporting for duty.

A Quad Body denotes full training with Reconnaissance Marines, Army Rangers, Army Airborne, and British Royal Marines.  Besides being one of the good guys, this helps define Col John Ripley.  Col Ripley also had more sea stories than any Marine I have ever known.

So, with Gen Barrow, Col Crawford and Col Ripley, and the two Sergeants Major all milling around and giving orders as to how to set the Guard Mount for the Pearly Gates, it was SgtMaj Rockwell who told all hands that, "He and SgtMaj Mac would handle Post # 1, so why don't you Officers just take a walk over to the Club and let us E-9's do our job!"  The correct response to that is, "Very well Sergeant Major!"

I truly miss these guys!

Semper Fi,

Seamus

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