U.S. Marine Corps Officer. He was one of the most decorated veterans of the Vietnam War. Born and raised in southwestern Virginia, Ripley joined the Marine Corps after high school graduation and was appointed to the Naval Academy a year later. He graduated, and was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in 1962. His initial duty was aboard the USS Independence. In 1965, he was assigned to the Second Force Reconnaissance Company, and deployed for his first tour in Vietnam. He commanded Lima Company, 3rd. Battalion, 3rd Marines, and was wounded in combat. Colonel (then Captain) Ripley gained his place in Marine Corps legend on Easter Sunday, April 2, 1972. For three hours, he crawled back and forth under enemy fire placing crates containing 500 pounds of TNT on the I-beams under the Dong Ha bridge. He then ran a fuse, several hundred feet in length, and blew up the bridge. His actions bottled up 20,000 North Vietnamese troops, blunted the Easter Offensive, and earned him the Navy Cross. He was the subject of John Grider Miller's book "The Bridge at Dong Ha," and is honored at the Naval Academy with a diorama called "Ripley at the Bridge." After Vietnam, Colonel Ripley commanded NROTC detachments at Oregon State and Virginia Military Institute, was exchange officer with the Royal Marines, and taught English and history at the Naval Academy. He retired in 1992, and was subsequently President of Southern Virginia University and of Hargrave Military Academy. In 1999, he was named Director of the Marine Corps History and Museums division. Colonel Ripley achieved the rare "Quad Body" distinction, graduating from training for Marine Force Reconnaissance, Army Rangers, Army Airborne, and the British Royal Marines. He is the only Marine Corps officer in the Army Ranger Hall of Fame. His decorations include the Navy Cross, Silver Star, Purple Heart, two Bronze Stars, and two Legions of Merit.
U.S. Marine Corps Officer. He was one of the most decorated veterans of the Vietnam War. Born and raised in southwestern Virginia, Ripley joined the Marine Corps after high school graduation and was appointed to the Naval Academy a year later. He graduated, and was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in 1962. His initial duty was aboard the USS Independence. In 1965, he was assigned to the Second Force Reconnaissance Company, and deployed for his first tour in Vietnam. He commanded Lima Company, 3rd. Battalion, 3rd Marines, and was wounded in combat. Colonel (then Captain) Ripley gained his place in Marine Corps legend on Easter Sunday, April 2, 1972. For three hours, he crawled back and forth under enemy fire placing crates containing 500 pounds of TNT on the I-beams under the Dong Ha bridge. He then ran a fuse, several hundred feet in length, and blew up the bridge. His actions bottled up 20,000 North Vietnamese troops, blunted the Easter Offensive, and earned him the Navy Cross. He was the subject of John Grider Miller's book "The Bridge at Dong Ha," and is honored at the Naval Academy with a diorama called "Ripley at the Bridge." After Vietnam, Colonel Ripley commanded NROTC detachments at Oregon State and Virginia Military Institute, was exchange officer with the Royal Marines, and taught English and history at the Naval Academy. He retired in 1992, and was subsequently President of Southern Virginia University and of Hargrave Military Academy. In 1999, he was named Director of the Marine Corps History and Museums division. Colonel Ripley achieved the rare "Quad Body" distinction, graduating from training for Marine Force Reconnaissance, Army Rangers, Army Airborne, and the British Royal Marines. He is the only Marine Corps officer in the Army Ranger Hall of Fame. His decorations include the Navy Cross, Silver Star, Purple Heart, two Bronze Stars, and two Legions of Merit.
Bio by: Bob Hufford
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