Posted on 11/21/2008 11:31:38 AM PST by MindBender26
In an era when far too many Americans are ready to confer virtual sainthood on a man who has never done anything in his life other than run a decent election campaign, pontificate well and promise us freedom from all responsibility and that someones else's efforts will give us everything in life, it is good to take a quick review of the life of a real American hero.
The below is from the leftists at Wiki. Even they are forced to admire this man.
When you have finished reading it, watch the youtube link posted above.
Remember Colonel Ripley, honor him in your thoughts and prayers this weekend, and as you watch the other American men in uniform, from Generals to Privates at his funeral, realize that Obama is not fit to be in the same room as, let alone command, Col. Ripley or any one of those Marines, from the Generals and combat-hardened Sergeants Major to the newest Private, as seen in the video.
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John Walter Ripley (June 29, 1939–October 28, 2008) was a United States Marine Corps officer who received the Navy Cross for his actions in combat during the Vietnam War. On Easter morning 1972, Captain Ripley, while under intense enemy fire, blew up a bridge to stop a major invasion. The story of "Ripley at the Bridge" is legendary in the Marine Corps and is captured in a diorama at the United States Naval Academy. His story is required reading for academy students.
John Walter Ripley was born on June 29, 1939 in Radford, Virginia. He enlisted into the Marine Corps in 1957 at 17 years of age. A year later, he was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy by the Secretary of the Navy. He graduated in 1962 with a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering, and received his commission as a second lieutenant of Merines.
After completing the Basic School, he joined the Marine Detachment on the USS Independence. After his sea duty, he joined 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines. In May 1965, Ripley was transferred to 2nd Force Reconnaissance Company, and after training, he deployed to Vietnam with his platoon.
In October 1966, Ripley joined 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines in South Vietnam. He served as Company Commander of Lima Company, known as "Ripley's Raiders," was wounded in action, then returned to active duty and completed his combat tour.
During his two years of Vietnam service, he participated in 26 major operations. In addition to numerous decorations for extensive combat experience at the rifle company and battalion levels, Ripley was awarded the Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism in destroying the Dong Ha bridge during the 1972 North Vietnamese Easter Offensive (also known as the Nguyen Hue Offensive). That action is memorialized at the Naval Academy with a large diorama titled "Ripley at the Bridge."
Ripley dangled for three hours under the bridge in order to attach 500 pounds of explosives to the span, ultimately destroying it. His action, conducted under enemy fire while going back and forth for materials, is thought to have thwarted an onslaught by 20,000 enemy troops and was the subject of a book, The Bridge at Dong Ha, by John Grider Miller. He attributes his success to the help of Our Lord and His Mother. When his energy was about the give out he began a rythmic chant, "Jesus, Mary, Get me there".
Following his tours in Vietnam, Ripley served with Marine Force Reconnaissance, was an exchange officer with the British Royal Marines and was a Commanding Officer of 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines and the 2nd Marine Regiment. His final tours in the Marine Corps were in charge of the NROTC detachments at Oregon State University and the Virginia Military Institute, and as the senior Marine at the United States Naval Academy teaching English and history.
He earned the "Quad Body" distinction for making it through four of the toughest military training programs in the world: the Army Rangers, Marine reconnaissance, Army Airborne and Britain's Royal Marines, according to Miller's book. He was also the only Marine officer to be inducted in the U.S. Army Ranger Hall of Fame. Ripley retired from the Marine Corps in 1992 after 35 years of active duty service.
Upon his retirement from active duty in 1992, Colonel Ripley was president and chancellor of Southern Virginia University in Buena Vista, Virginia and subsequently served as president of Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Virginia. He was selected by the Marine Corps Commandant in 1999 to be the director of the Corps' History and Museums Division.
June of 1992 Col. Ripley testified against women in the military before a presidential commission. He based his arguments on a defense of “femininity, motherhood, and what we have come to appreciate in Western culture as the graceful conduct of women.” In the following year he spoke against homosexuals in the military during the House Armed Services Committee hearings that preceded the implementation of President Clinton’s “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.
In October 2006, John Ripley returned to the site of the Dong Ha Bridge to film a documentary of his exploits. The documentary was hosted by Oliver North, and was shown on November 12, 2006 on Fox News.
Ripley died on October 28, 2008 at his home in Annapolis, Maryland of undetermined causes. He was survived by his son, Stephen, by his wife of 44 years, the former Moline Blaylock; a sister, Susan Goodykoontz; two other sons, Thomas and John; a daughter, Mary Ripley; and eight grandchildren.
In addition to the Navy Cross, his personal decorations include 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.
In 2002, he also became the very first Marine officer to receive the “Distinguished Graduate Award”, the highest and most prestigious award given by the United States Naval Academy.
Also, in May 2004, Marines of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit named a Forward Operating Base after him (FOB Ripley) in south-central Afghanistan.[4] In July 2006, the Naval Academy Prep School in Newport, Rhode Island dedicated its new dormitory as "Ripley Hall", honoring their former graduate.
Watch the video...... and never, never, never, never forget who we are.
Not who we were; but who we are
Col. Ripley is an inspiration to all who met or had even head of him. My son texted me on Sunday morning from Chapel that Col. Ripley had died. My son and I had been lucky enough to meet Col. Ripley during my son's Plebe year and I have a picture from that meeting. I sent out a message to Right and Left alike in my address book. Here is the cold reply I received from my Socialist sister: ‘Sad to hear about his passing. Yes, the world is a different place when our veterans pass on’. Leftists don't care about true heroes. They are only looking for the next handout.
‘heard’
Our soldiers, sailors, Marines, airmen, coastguardsmen have served under disgraceful presidents at times in our history but they persevere, continue doing their duty for the benefit of their country, OUR country, those of us who carry our country in our hearts. As a FReeper said: I don’t live in America, America lives in me.
So, let us follow their example and persevere in doing what is right and just to the best of our abilities; always working towards the goal of what is good for our country, not ourselves.
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