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Colonel John Ripley USMC Dies
By Townie 76
Retired Marine Col. John Ripley, who was credited with stopping a column of North Vietnamese tanks by blowing up a pair of bridges during the 1972 Easter Offensive of the Vietnam War, died at home at age 69, friends and relatives said Sunday.
John Ripley, Vietnam War hero, dies at age 69
AP Photo/ELIZABETH MALBY
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ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) -- Retired Marine Col. John Ripley, who was credited with stopping a column of North Vietnamese tanks by blowing up a pair of bridges during the 1972 Easter Offensive of the Vietnam War, died at home at age 69, friends and relatives said Sunday.
Ripley's son, Stephen Ripley, said his father was found at his Annapolis home Saturday after missing a speaking engagement on Friday. The son said the cause of death had not been determined but it appeared his father died in his sleep.
In a videotaped interview with the U.S. Naval Institute for its Americans at War program, Ripley said he and about 600 South Vietnamese were ordered to "hold and die" against 20,000 North Vietnamese soldiers with about 200 tanks.
"I'll never forget that order, 'hold and die'," Ripley said. The only way to stop the enormous force with their tiny force was to destroy the bridge, he said.
"The idea that I would be able to even finish the job before the enemy got me was ludicrous," Ripley said. "When you know you're not going to make it, a wonderful thing happens: You stop being cluttered by the feeling that you're going to save your butt."
Ripley crawled under the bridge under heavy gunfire, rigging 500 pounds of explosives that brought the twins spans down, said John Miller, a former Marine adviser in Vietnam and the author of "The Bridge at Dong Ha," which details the battle.
Miller said the North Vietnamese advance was slowed considerably by Ripley.
"A lot of people think South Vietnam would have gone under in '72 had he not stopped them," Miller said.
Ray Madonna, president of the U.S. Naval Academy's 1962 graduating class, served in Vietnam as a Marine at the same time and said his classmate saved countless U.S. and South Vietnamese troops.
"They would have been wrecked" if the tanks had crossed, Madonna said. He said Ripley also coordinated naval gunfire that stopped the tanks from crossing at a shallower point downstream.
"He was a Marine's Marine, respected, highly respected by enlisted men, by his peers and by his seniors," Madonna said.
Miller said Ripley, who was born in Radford, Va., descended from a long line of veterans going back to the Revolutionary War. He graduated from the Naval Academy in 1962, after enlisting in the Marines out of high school and spending a year in naval school in Newport, R.I.
He earned the "Quad Body" distinction for making it through four of the toughest military training programs in the world: the Army Rangers, Marine reconnaissance, Army Airborne and Britain's Royal Marines, Miller said. He was also the only Marine to be inducted in the U.S. Army Ranger Hall of Fame.
Ripley earned the Navy Cross and Silver Star for his service in Vietnam. He later served on the Joint Chiefs of Staff and was regimental commander at Camp Lejeune, N.C., among other postings.
After retiring from the Marines, he was president and chancellor of Southern Virginia College in Lexington, Va.
Stephen Ripley said his father had a deep and tenacious love for his country, the Marine Corps and his family.
"My Dad never quit anything and never went halfway on anything in his life," he said. "He just was a full-throttle kind of person and those people that he cared about, he really cared about."
Ripley is survived by his wife, Moline B. Ripley, 67; three sons, Stephen Ripley, 43, Thomas Ripley, 38, and John Ripley, 35; a daughter, Mary Ripley, 39; and eight grandchildren.
Funeral arrangements were pending.
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A lifetime of bravery and service to country.
Now he guards heaven's gate.
I only knew him by reputation but he was supposed to be the guest speaker at our birthday ball next Friday.
Just damn...
I had the pleasure of serving under Col. Ripley from 73-77 as Marine NROTC midshipman at Oregon State. He is one of the most amazing men I have ever met. I have not seen him in 31 years, yet his influence on me was refreshed with this sad news. We have lost a legend and a genuine Marine. The world is less without his soul.
Semper Fidelis is our motto, but it was John Ripley's way of life.
I've read the book, which I used to own, but I loaned it out, and never got it back.
There is a summarized (but very well written) version of the story on-line, at:
http://www.tfp.org/student_action/opinions/true_stories/colonelripley.html
For all the glitzy Hollywood action movies that have been made, the story of "Ripley at the Bridge" is one of the most heroic stories I've ever read.
This officer must have had balls the size of bowling balls. I guess death had to sneak up on him in his sleep, to snatch him without a fight.
RIP Colonel, and Semper Fi!
Lone Ranger
US Army, Infantry '78-'88
He was also head of the Navy/Marine ROTC unit at VMI in 90 and 91, from which post he retired from the Marine Corps. When I have the means to post later on today, I'll relate a great Ripley story that illustrates the effect he had on people long after they served with him. And I'll close here with this-- he was one of the best, a warfighter and a true gentleman. I long ago gave up hero worship, except for a scarce few. He is one of them.
I feel an empty feeling today,having lost one of this nations best Marines.I'm a former Ripley Raider and would follow him to hell and back. I'm going to miss you sir,i'll never forget you. Jim Gottmann
I made the originial post, but forgot to give some more details. John Ripley, while a graduate of the USNA '62; had two brothers who were VMI graduates. His oldest brother George was the first Professor of Naval Science at VMI. Additionally two of sons were graduates of the Institute.
He was a warrior gentleman. A true hero, and a man I was proud to have known.
Our nation has lost an orginial.
I signed my Marine Option papers at then Major Ripley's desk at his office at Oregon State University in 1974. Last saw him in Dallas at a retirement ceremony...will always be in awe of this incredible Marine. Will be sorely missed.
Very proud to say I was a classmate of John Ripley’s in the same Naval Academy company. “Rip” was one of the most personable men I ever met. Years later I was at his retiement ceremony at Quantico and was imprssed by two comments, one by the Commandant (whose name I forget), and the other by John (whose name I will never forget). The General told the audience that aside from all the heroic acts of Colonel Ripley, his single biggest contribution was the number of young officers he recruited for the Marine Corps (over 500) while an NROTC instructor at the U. of Oregon, a department head at the Naval Academy, and as CO of the NROTC unit at VMI. John’s final remark in his retirement speech was that we should never forget that no matter what great technology the modern Marine Corps had, nothing matched the importance of the Marine rifleman. It never ceases to amaze me that John’s heroism at Dong Ha did not earn him the Medal of Honor, and that his amazing accomplishments throughout his career did not warrant his being made a general!
A Great Man, Hero of our times,
I am honored to have served under his command of 2nd Marines.
Gentlemen,
A Great Man and Hero of our times has passed.
I am honored to have served under his command at 2nd Marines.
S/F
Blue skies, sir.
Semper Fidelis! I was honored to have met him a few times in Church and when he spoke at the I.
One of the best legends of a Marine's Marine you could imagine. I had the pleasure of his leadership at Oregon State as a Marine NROTC midshipman.
We claim Semper Fidelis as our motto, but it was Col. Ripley's life. His loyalty was complete, in all directions.
The earth is less today without his soul, but the heavens are a safer place tonight.
Here's a quote from Colonel Ripley...I just wanted to share
"If I can say anything to the Marines today, I would explain to them that being a Marine is a great privilege, never a right. It is something that you earn and if you prove to be good enough, then you can serve. If you ever think for a moment you can just take off your pack and call it quits, you are wrong. We have a tremendous legacy to uphold and everything we do must burnish that reputation. There is no easy way to be a Marine and there never will be. You are a Marine every day and it is your responsibility to uphold the legacy that Marines in the past have so dearly established."
This is the same man who sat at dinner with me and asked me, a first class midshipman about to be commissioned as a Second Lieutenant, to sign his program for the evening because he was going to read about me in the papers and all the great things I did for the Marine Corps. I walked with a hero.
Semper Fidelis
~RWP
I met Col. Ripley when I, a 19 year old Marine, went aboard the USS Independence as a PFC on December 21, 1962. Col Ripley was a 2nd Lt and the XO of MarDet. He was spit and polish and gung ho about all things Marine Corps.
While on liberty in port in the Med, his ideal of relaxing was to take a few Marines on a run or go climbing the hills.
You guys that had the honor of serving with him in Viet Nam were blessed!
My prayers are with Mrs Ripley and the entire family. May the love of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ bless and comfort you.
Chuck Martin
I had the honor of participating in COL Ripley's care at Camp Lejeune in the late 80s, and hoisting a beer with him at the O club. A fine man and a charismatic leader. Godspeed, Colonel.
I checked into Marine Corps Historical Division in the Washington Navy Yard as a brand new PFC in 2003 where Col Ripley was the Director. This was the firs retired Colonel I came in contact with while on active duty and he left an impression that i will never forget. What a great leader!!! He will never be forgotten.
Col. Ripley has left us way too soon. I still get a warm feeling knowing that this marine was out there doing his job, in a far away land, above & beyond the call of duty, and on the exact same day that I was serving on board the USS Lexington at Pensacola NAS as a young aviation candidate, Easter Sunday, 1972.
God speed, Col. Ripley. You will never be forgotten.
I never had the honor of meeting Col. John Ripley. In fact, before a dear friend suggested that I look him up, I had never heard his name. But I have sat here and read stories of his life and countless postings by the people that loved him and will miss him dearly. I am a simple American woman enjoying a world that Col. Ripley dedicated his life to protecting. I am humbled by the recounts of his heroism and tireless dedication to his country. I suppose I'd just like to say thank you. Thank you from the core of my being and on behalf of my four children. When the time is right, I will tell each of them of this great man, Col. John Ripley. May God bless your soul.
I talked with Col. Ripley many times when I was a Marine Stationed in Annapolis. His house was right outside gate 3. He was really kind and always had a few words of motovation!
Definatly one of the older Marines I tried to emulate my service after.
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Goddamn it! I saw this on the Comcast website this morning...damn.
Just this weekend, I read COL Ripley's commentary on Tarawa's significance to WWII in the latest Proceedings.
It is a sad day, that unfortunately too many Americans will not realize.
And just in case folks don't know the whole story, you can read The Bridge at Dong Ha.