List of marine corps battles

John Ripley was born on June 29, , in Keystone, West Virginia.

Col john ripley biography graphic organizer John Walter Ripley (June 29, – October 28, ) was a decorated United States Marine Corps Colonel who received the Navy Cross for his actions in combat during the Vietnam War.

He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps on June 21, , and was honorably discharged to enter the U.S. Naval Academy on June 29, Ripley graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy with a commission as a 2d Lt in the Marine Corps on June 6, , and after completing The Basic School at MCS Quantico, Virginia, he served with the Marine Detachment aboard the aircraft carrier USS Independence (CVA) from February to January His next assignment was with the 2nd Marine Division and the 2nd Force Reconnaissance Company at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, from February to August , followed by service with the 3rd Marine Division in South Vietnam from October to November After completing Amphibious Warfare School, Capt Ripley served with Headquarters U.S.

Marine Corps in the Pentagon from August to September , and then was an exchange officer with the British Royal Marines from October to May His next assignment was as an Advisor with Naval Forces Vietnam from July to May , followed by service with the Navy ROTC detachment at Oregon State University from June to July Maj Ripley was a student at the University of Washington, D.C., from July to December , and then served at Headquarters U.S.

Marine Corps from December to May His next assignment was with the 2nd Marine Division at Camp Lejeune from June to July , followed by Naval War College from July to June Col Ripley served with Headquarters U.S. Marine Corps from June to July , and then served at the U.S. Naval Academy from July to June His next assignment was with III Marine Amphibious Force on Okinawa, from June to July , followed by service with the 2nd Marine Division at Camp Lejeune from July to July Col Ripley's final assignment was as commander of the Navy ROTC detachment at the Virginia Military Institute from July until his retirement from the Marine Corps on July 1, He was the first Marine officer to receive the Distinguished Graduate Award from the U.S.

Naval Academy in , and he became the first Marine to be inducted into the U.S. Army Ranger Hall of Fame in John Ripley died on October 28, , and was buried at the U.S. Naval Academy Cemetery.

His Navy Cross Citation reads:

For extraordinary heroism on 2 April while serving as the Senior Marine Advisor to the Third Vietnamese Marine Corps Infantry Battalion in the Republic of Vietnam.

Upon receipt of a report that a rapidly moving, mechanized, North Vietnamese army force, estimated at reinforced divisional strength, was attacking south along Route #1, the Third Vietnamese Marine Infantry Battalion was positioned to defend a key village and the surrounding area. It became imperative that a vital river bridge be destroyed if the overall security of the northern provinces of Military Region One was to be maintained.

Advancing to the bridge to personally supervise this most dangerous but vitally important assignment, Captain Ripley located a large amount of explosives which had been pre-positioned there earlier, access to which was blocked by a chain-link fence.

Col john ripley biography graphic organizer pdf Colonel Ripley, who passed away last month, had just been presented with the Navy Cross for his singlehanded destruction of the bridge at Dong Ha. John Warner, then Secretary of the Navy, presided over the ceremony.

In order to reposition the approximately pounds of explosives, Captain Ripley was obliged to reach up and hand-walk along the beams while his body dangled beneath the bridge. On five separate occasions, in the face of constant enemy fire, he moved to points along the bridge and, with the aid of another advisor who pushed the explosives to him, securely emplaced them.

He then detonated the charges and destroyed the bridge, thereby stopping the enemy assault. By his heroic actions and extraordinary courage, Captain Ripley undoubtedly was instrumental in saving an untold number of lives. His inspiring efforts reflected great credit upon himself, the Marine Corps, and the United States Naval Service.