Col. John W. Ripley, USMC (Ret.)

[joliva30maple]

Now that is a devil dog!

[Lesslyms]

You are a bad ass sir. And below I dare you to call us kids to our face. We volunteered to go did you forget that.

[Yankeegator]

Why did not this great man rec. the Medal of Honor. HE SHOULD HAVE THE MEDAL OF HONOR!!!!

[citizenfitz]

RIP Col. Ripley. A great marine! The trucks the NVA were using to convoy troops and munitions were Fords - made in a Soviet factory designed and built by the Ford Motor Company. The fuel that powered them came from oil fields developed by American interests with close ties to the Rockefeller oil cartel. Before any military action in Viet Nam could occur the US cleared it through the UN - whose military deputy was a Soviet General....

[coxscorner]

Ok this guy won the Navy Cross, the Silver Star, two Legions of Merit, two Bronze Star Medals with 'V' for Valor, the Purple Heart, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal, the Combat Action Ribbon, the South Vietnamese Army Distinguished Service Order, 2nd Class, and the South Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Gold Star.

My only question is how come he didn't get the Congressional it seems his feat at the bridge is worthy of it.

[gunlover94]

@coxscorner I know right? It's most likely because of his strong position against women or gays in the military.

[billyslo87]

@coxscorner There is a senator from SC that is trying to get him the Medal of Honor. I am not sure what his name is. Col. Ripley was the most decorated Veteran of Nam. His brother, Mike Ripley, was the most experienced Marine pilot of Nam and was killed in a test flight of the Harrier in '72. He was a great Marine, soldier, father, and husband. God bless him and all of our soldiers.

[twogreek]

I was in Danang at the time. With less than 50,000 U.S. forces in country at the time, we had 250,000 ground troops and many tanks headed our way which had to go over this bridge before they got to us.

This Marine likely saved our lives with his heroic deed of taking down this bridge.

Uncommon Valor is still in our ranks.

Do or die .... OohRah.

Semper Fi Colonel .... Guard those Pearly gates until we can report for our duty with you. ... Bill - USMC '69-'73

[SushiSounds]

wow...

This man is the definition of a Hero.

[Yankeegator]

Eternal Rest Grant Him O Lord And Let Perpetual Light Shine Upon Him. May He, And All The Faithful Departed, Through Your Mercy And Grace, Rest In Peace...Amen

We Few, We Happy Few, We Eternal Band Of Brothers...

[chargamer]

Fuck Chuck Norris this Marine is god like

[UnicornHead]

this man is the epitome of what it means to be a man.

[TrekkieAtlantis]

Semper-Fi brother

[iprazhm]

Wow......wow.

[xinloi1966]

Thank you Sir. Semper Fidelis and God bless and hold you.

[frogman20009]

thats why people with a clan conscience make the best soldiers!

[gopfunk]

There is a great new book called Ride the Thunder that covers this story in great detail as well as many other exploits of the Ripley Raiders. The book not only covers Captain Ripley but many other exploits of marines in 'Nam.

[asianwannabeamerican]

One helluva Marine. Thank you!

[quaidieuquy]

Captain John Ripley. Dong Ha VietNam hero. God bless you sir.

Nguyen cau Thien Chua va me Maria som dem linh hon Col John W.Ripley ve huong phuc doi doi tren nuoc Thien dang... VNMC xin chao vinh biet nguoi anh hung nam xua.

[kevlarkb]

A marine's Marine. Semper-Fi...

[billyslo87]

I met Col. Ripley in 94 and am proud to say so. I truly do believe that the world is a lesser place because of his absence. He was one of those men that when he walked into a room he didn't have to introduce himself because you knew by his presence who he was. God bless him and send us more like him.

[301vtec]

semper fi...

[managrey]

"Hold and Die" now thats one hell of an order.

[49woodie]

Our Navy destroyer provided gunfire support.

There is a diarama of this action at the Naval Academy.

He should receive the MOH.

Thank you Col. Ripley. RIP

[EveryMn]

Someone should start a petition for Col. Ripley's Navy Cross to be upgraded to the Medal of Honor.

Rest in peace, Marine,

[logarock]

I cant believe this wasn't taken care of during the Bush years. There was talk about this 30 years ago.

[dannybeelz]

A true American hero.

[extremehotrod]

God speed Colonel. You were a man among men.

[burst32]

A true American hero. Too bad you don't hear more about people like this on the news and in other forms of media. I'm proud to have known this man, and to have saluted him while in uniform. Semper Fidelis.

[rabidfurry2]

I'm sure there are brave men in our forces acting like Col. Ripley did, but what the media shows are those who portray America poorly.

[billyslo87]

Isn't that the truth.

[edw1625]

Col Ripley inspired those who knew him, served with him and loved him. May the memory of his life continue to inspire others to persevere and never to give up despite overwhelming odds. To every man God has appointed a day to die. What you do with your life is part of your legacy.

[raz0rsvids]

Godspeed to you, sir.

[ipd53]

John Ripley was truly a brave Marine risking his own life to save others. He should be remembered for his brave actions. A ture American hero. Now that he has passed - I pray that God will welcome him home.

[saywatThafuckiwant]

God bless that brave mtherfucker!!!! THATS THE REAL RAMBO! ps- Should Col. Ripley not have died and went to become a Pres. Candidate, should we make THAT the main reason that he is AUTOMATICALLY the candidate to choose??? Because McCain got shot down by these same GOOK SCUM and taken hostage, HE should b the fucking PRESIDENT???? McCain has more valor than Ill ever know, true, BUT, many ALSO lost their lives. I just think McCain's making his team MILK his former POW status!

[dcatxusa]

I suppose for every 9999 Americans who have heard of the Mai Lai massacre, there may be 1 who ever heard of Col. Ripley's bravery and heroics and other such stories of men of integrity. Too bad. And so tomorrow the country likely elects a President who pals around with men like Bill Ayers who have NO integrity. Too bad.

[FlipKeithCossey]

My Lai, water-boarding, and secret arms shipments from Iran to the Conras in Nicaragua were news because they were so un-American and a threat to our principles. Like some newsman said: "When a dog bites a man, that is not news. But when a man bites a dog, that is news." Events like Capt. Ripley's heroism certainly are news and demand as wide an exposure as possible... when their revelation may no longer jeopardize troops in the field. I do not accept the "liberal media" myth.

[garand]

SEMPER FI!

[roman61]

RIP. You had brass ones Colonel

[86standard88]

God Bless You Col! You have been called to duty at Heaven's Gate. Semper Fi!

[rvandeloo]

God Bless Col. John W. Ripley.... He saved many lives.. A true Hero...

[ohrmets]

American Badass

[DeeDonner]

Many Thanks!R.I.P.

[BuckeyeNotAcorn]

Rest in peace. Thank you.

[bonenk]

awesome!!!

[toyotaguyjeff]

A soldier's soldier!

[JacobWeinberg]

R.I.P. All-American Badass...

[tallentone]

Semper Fi, From the Halls of Montezuma to Heavens Gates, Thanks for you commitment and service!

[logarock]

See you on duty at Heavens Gate Rip. I haven't seen this guy in 28 years.

[Tubal22]

RIP. A true American Hero.

[crotchboots]

just goes to prove that if you have a really hard job to do,get a marine. hurrah!!!

[canuckdeerhunter26]

Now thats hard..

[Austinjoke]

Thank god we had some people willing to fight the bad guys, I love watching this stuff. I'm only 2 but im even mad about what we did in Vietnam- we left! We whopped em in 72

[hdnguyen1911]

That is so rare Marines in Tight Stripe. And A Marine Advisor Marine Corps history.

[descending61]

Sir, in case you have not heard it lately... THANK YOU!!! Everyone who awakens everyday in this country, and draws their first breath of "free Air" should thank you every day they're alive. Once again, Thank you.