John Ripley (USMC)
John Walter Ripley (June 29, 1939 – October 28, 2008) was a decorated United States Marine Corps Colonel who received the Navy Cross for his actions in combat during the Vietnam War. On Easter morning 1972, Captain Ripley repeatedly exposed himself to intense enemy fire over a three-hour period as he prepared to blow up an essential bridge in Dong Ha. His actions significantly hampered the North Vietnamese Army's advance into South Vietnam. The story of "Ripley at the Bridge" is legendary in the Marine Corps and is captured in a gripping diorama at the United States Naval Academy.
John Ripley | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | John Walter Ripley |
| Nickname(s) | "Rip" |
| Born | June 29, 1939 Radford, Virginia, U.S. |
| Died | October 28, 2008 (aged 69) Annapolis, Maryland, U.S. |
| Place of burial | United States Naval Academy Cemetery |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/ | United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 1957–1992 |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Commands held | 4th Platoon, 2nd Force Reconnaissance Company, FMFLANT Lima Company 3rd Battalion 3rd Marines 1st Battalion 2nd Marines 2nd Marine Regiment |
| Battles/wars | Vietnam War |
| Awards | Navy Cross Silver Star Legion of Merit (2) Bronze Star (2) Purple Heart |
| Other work | Southern Virginia University Hargrave Military Academy USMC History & Museums Division, Director |
| External image | |
|---|---|
| Diorama depicting Colonel John Ripley underneath the Dong Ha bridge located at the United States Naval Academy. Displayed at Modern American Heroes by Norman Fulkerson. |
On October 28, 2009, the first biography about Col. Ripley was published. It was written by Norman Fulkerson and is titled An American Knight, The Life of Col. John W. Ripley.