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Colonel Ripley: In Every Clime and Place
By Lt Col P
I reported for duty with 1st Battalion, 10th Marines (1/10) on 16 June 1990. One of the first battalion events I attended was the farewell parade for Col John Ripley, who was relinquishing command of 2d Marines. (BR (and frequent commenter) Neal was in 3rd Battalion 2d Marines; the CO of that battalion is now Commandant.) You see, at that time, the infantry regiments in 2d Marine Division had "habitual relationships" with the supporting artillery battalions. 2d Marines "owned" 1/10-- and deployed with them to various mountain and cold weather exercises in preparation for the long-anticipated day when we'd have to mount out and defend Norway against the Soviets-- and Col Ripley called us "4/2," the fourth battalion, so to speak, of his regiment, hence our connection to him. From there he went to VMI to take over the Naval ROTC unit.
Fast forward now about three months. Regimental Landing Team 2, built around 2d Marines with 1/10 attached, was ashore in Oman for the first of several landing exercises, in preparation now for the much-anticipated day when we'd land in Kuwait. (Fat chance, but I digress.) I was the FO with CAAT Platoon, 1/2.
Once ashore we drove some way inland and stopped to sort ourselves out and just enjoy not being on the ship. A group of Omani soldiers drove up and dismounted. I noticed that one of their officers was a Westerner. I struck up a conversation with him, and finally asked him what he was doing there-- was he on exchange? No, he said, he was an officer on contract in the Sultan's armed forces, as were several other ex British officers. He was, he was proud to say, a former Royal Marine officer, and said that his first company commander was a "Yankee Marine." Really, says I; who was that?
"John Ripley."
And he proceeded to do a letter-perfect impression of his old company commander, someone he hadn't seen in over a decade. And then he told me on some detail what a deep and lasting effect this foreign officer had on his development and career, and how much he learned from him. He said he often wondered where he ended up.
I told him that I knew exactly where he was, and if he'd like to write him a note I'd be happy to post it once I got back to the ship. And so he did, taking a few minutes to write a letter to his old CO. He folded it up, thanked me for doing him the favor, and was off to attend to his duties. I did send the letter off in care of the Naval ROTC unit, and made a mental note to go see the Colonel when I got back, to find out if the letter ever got to him.
Fast forward again to late spring 1991. On my leave home after Desert Shield/Desert Storm, I stopped by VMI and paid a courtesy call on the Colonel. Yes, he did get the letter and was delighted to hear from one of his old officers, and remarked what a small world it is for Marines of any flag.
He was right, of course, and the real devotion and affection he inspired in men of all nationalities is evident in the comments from Townie's post below, and in the memories of thousands of Marines today, who are now recalling their own connections, great and small, with one of the best we've ever produced.
Godspeed to you, sir, you will not be soon forgotten.
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Comments
JohnW:
None whatsoever.
jpp
Talk about a guy that should be put in for MOH.
Thanks for your information, i have read it, very good！
Very cool! Congrats on the pairing.
Thank you very much!
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Sir,
I had always heard the rumor that Col Ripley was fired after the Rother incident, since he (Rother) was in 2nd Marines. Any truth to that?