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'Semper Fidelis' saves a life
The Baltimore Sun ^ | August 16, 2002 | Ellen Gamerman

Posted on 08/16/2002 8:21:23 AM PDT by MudPuppy

Legend: Decades after his heroics in Vietnam, relatives and servicemen mobilize to help a dying vet. By Ellen Gamerman Sun National Staff

August 16, 2002

WASHINGTON - John Ripley's worthless liver had left his skin a sickly yellow. Toxic fluids were collecting in his system, causing his lean frame to bloat: Once 175 pounds, he now weighed 425. His kidneys were failing. An incision glared from his abdomen, closed with staples in case surgeons had to rip it open fast. Eighteen IV lines fed into his unconscious body.

One of the Marine Corps' greatest living heroes was dying.

In the intensive care unit at Georgetown University Medical Center, a son of the retired colonel, Tom Ripley, sat vigil. It was 7 a.m. when the phone rang: A donor liver had been found, but his father might not live long enough to get it.

That's when the Ripleys understood that the delivery of the liver, from a 16-year-old gunshot victim in Philadelphia to the dying veteran in Washington, would take too long if left in the hospital's hands. Their only thought: Call in the Marines.

Over the next hours on that day last month, saving John Ripley's life became a military mission. It would involve the leader of the Marine Corps and helicopters from the president's fleet. Support teams would come from police in two cities, a platoon of current and former Marines, the president of Georgetown University and even a crew of construction workers.

"Sir, this is my dad's last chance," Tom Ripley said in a call to the Marine commandant's office. "I'm measuring my father's life in hours, not days."

The extraordinary efforts to save the 63-year-old Ripley, recovering from transplant surgery at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, shows how far the Corps will go to protect one of its own.

Marines will say they'd do this for any fallen comrade. But Ripley is no ordinary Marine. In a messy war with few widely recognized heroes, he is a legend. And at his moment of need, the Corps treated him like one.

"Colonel Ripley's story is part of our folklore - everybody is moved by it," said Lt. Col. Ward Scott, who helped organize the organ delivery from his post at the Marine Corps Historical Center in Washington, which Ripley has directed for the past three years. "It mattered that it was Colonel Ripley who was in trouble."

(Excerpt) Read more at sunspot.net ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: marines; military; semperfi; usmc
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To: Poohbah; dighton; Orual; aculeus
A quiet bump for a quietly inspiring story...
21 posted on 08/16/2002 11:37:11 AM PDT by general_re
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To: MudPuppy
Colonel John W. Ripley, U.S. Marine Corps (Ret.)
Director, Marine Corps History and Museums

Colonel John W. Ripley served 35 years active duty in the Marines. Graduating June 1957 from Radford High School, Radford, Virginia, he served for one year in the Marine Corps before entering the United States Naval Academy, obtaining an appointment from the Secretary of the Navy. In June of 1962, he graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in electrical engineering and was commissioned Second Lieutenant, USMC.

Upon completion of Basic School, Col Ripley was assigned Sea Duty with Marine Detachment, USS Independence. Afterwards he joined 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines, commanding a Rifle, then Weapons platoon. In May 1965 Col Ripley was transferred to 2nd Force Reconnaissance Company where he completed Airborne, Scuba, Ranger, and Jumpmaster courses then deployed overseas with his platoon.

In October 1966, Col Ripley joined the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines just below the demilitarized zone (DMZ) in the northern sector of South Vietnam, I Corps. Commanding “Lima” Company for a year Ripley saw much action in the famous “Leatherneck Square” area (Dong Ha, Con Tien, Khe Sanh). He was wounded in action while commanding Lima Company, then returned to action in March 1967 to complete his tour.

Following Vietnam he attended Amphibious Warfare School and on completion of the course became the Infantry Officers Monitor, Headquarters, Marine Corps. In October 1969 he was selected to serve as the Exchange Officer to the British Royal Marines. He attended the Marine Commando Course at Lympstone, England, then served in Singapore with the 3rd Commando Brigade and with 40 Commando in northern Malaya, campaigning for several months with the famous Gurkha rifles. Col Ripley also served with the Special Boat Service (3rd SBS) and with “Zulu” Company Group in north Norway. Taking command of “Yankee” Company they deployed throughout England, Scotland, and Wales. Col Ripley returned to Norway for his second winter to complete the Mountain and Arctic Warfare Course at Elvegardsmoen. He also completed the Joint Warfare Course at Old Sarum, England.

Col Ripley returned to Vietnam in 1971 and served as Senior Advisor to the 3rd Vietnamese Marine Battalion, which operated along the DMZ. He was at Dong Ha with his battalion during the 1972 North Vietnamese Easter Invasion. It was during this invasion that Col Ripley heroically performed the action at the Dong Ha Bridge, for which he was awarded the nation’s second highest honor, the Navy Cross. John G. Miller’s book, The Bridge at Dong Ha, (Naval Institute Press) documents this action.

Returning from Vietnam in 1972, Col Ripley became the Marine Officer Instructor at Oregon State University. In 1975 he attended American University in the Advanced Degree program, earning a Master of Science. Upon completion of his degree he was assigned to the Office of the Chief of Staff, HQMC serving in Special Projects Directorate then later as the Administrative Assistant/Aide to the Chief of Staff.

Col Ripley next commanded 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines from July 1979 to May 1981. During this time they deployed for Combined Arms Exercise 2-80, then to Mountain Warfare Training Center. In January 1981 the battalion deployed to Norway, becoming the first unit of its kind to conduct Arctic Warfare Training and winter operations there.

Upon completion of his tour with the 2nd Marines, Col Ripley attended Naval War College in Newport, RI, graduating in 1982. He then reported to the Joint Staff, Joint Chiefs of Staff, serving there as Political-Military Planner and Branch Chief, European Division, J-5.

Col Ripley was next assigned to the U.S. Naval Academy where he served as Senior Marine and Director, Division of English and History from 1984-1987. During this period he established a record of commissioning more than 500 Academy midshipmen into the Marine Corps. Col Ripley next spent a year as Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3 with 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan.

In July 1988, Col Ripley assumed command of the 2nd Marine Regiment, Camp Lejeune, NC. The 2nd Marines deployed twice as a regiment to Norway. Upon leaving the Regiment, he commanded the Navy-Marine Corps ROTC at Virginia Military Institute. During his time at VMI, Col Ripley created the largest, most productive NROTC unit in the country.

Col Ripley has earned six valorous and fourteen personal decorations including the Navy Cross, the Silver Star, two awards of the Legion of Merit, two awards of the Bronze Star with Combat “V”, the Purple Heart, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal, the Presidential Unit Citation, and the Navy Unit Citation, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Vietnamese Distinguished Service Order and the Cross of Gallantry with Gold Star.

Col Ripley’s heroic action at the Dong Ha bridge was selected as a single act to memorialize the actions of all Naval Academy graduates during the entire Vietnam War. In Memorial Hall at The Academy, a large diorama titled “Ripley at The Bridge” represents the noble and gallant actions of all Naval Academy men who fought there.

Following his retirement in June 1992, Col Ripley became president of Southern Virginia College in Buena Vista, VA. While there he was credited with saving the financially-troubled college. After turning the College over to new management, Col Ripley was asked to remain as Chancellor in order to assist and supervise the conversion of the College into a coeducational, four-year institution. Upon successful completion of this, he received resolutions and citations from the Trustees, the City of Buena Vista, and the Office of the Governor.

In 1997, Colonel Ripley assumed the responsibilities as President, Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Virginia. While serving in this capacity, he shored up parental confidence in the program of instruction, refocused the financial plan on infrastructure improvement, dormitory and classroom modernization, updated curricula to include additional offerings thereby enhancing the overall program, and established innovative sources of revenue through positive change and sound management practices.

In June 1999, Colonel Ripley was selected by the Marine Corps to serve as the Director of Marine Corps History and Museums and Director of the Marine Corps Historical Center. He returned to government service in July, 1999.

Col Ripley has been elected to Phi Alpha Theta, a history honorary, and to Who’s Who Worldwide. He also holds the distinction of having commissioned more officers in the Marine Corps than anyone on record. During his two years of Vietnam service he participated in 26 major operations which included numerous battles at the Rifle Company, Battalion and Division level. He and one other Marine share the distinction of more combat experience at the rifle company and battalion level than any other active duty Marine. He is the subject of, or in, over 20 books and has lectured widely on combat leadership, performance in adversity and the value of humanities, classics, and liberal arts. He is in high demand as a motivational speaker and participates in numerous national seminars. His testimony before Congress, a Presidential Commission, and numerous writings have been entered into the Congressional Record.

Col Ripley and his wife, Moline, reside in Annapolis, Maryland. They have four children: Stephen, a UVA graduate, Mary, a University of Oregon graduate, and Thomas and John Michael, both VMI graduates.

July, 1999

22 posted on 08/16/2002 3:39:24 PM PDT by SMEDLEYBUTLER
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To: MudPuppy
The story of Ripley's accomplishment at Dong Ha.


23 posted on 08/16/2002 4:00:23 PM PDT by SMEDLEYBUTLER
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To: MudPuppy
"Does it surprise me that the Marine Corps would do this?" Ripley said from his hospital bed, his dog tags still hanging around his neck. "The answer is absolutely flat no! If any Marine is out there, no matter who he is, and he's in trouble, then the Marines will say, 'We've got to do what it takes to help him.'"

He knows whereof he speaks.

On a lighter note. I attended my brother's retirement ceremony last year. I got the same courteous friendly treatment that V.I.P.s usually get (V.I.P. by proxy, he's a Colonel).

When the enlisted Marines found out that I had been a Sergeant, the V.I.P. stuff went overboard and they welcomed me as one of their own.

24 posted on 08/16/2002 4:11:51 PM PDT by LibKill
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To: MudPuppy
Printed a copy for my good hunting buddy Col. James W. Persons U.S.M.C.(Ret.). I'm sure he'll get something in his eye as well.
25 posted on 08/16/2002 5:16:27 PM PDT by TEXASPROUD
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To: MudPuppy
Wow!
26 posted on 08/16/2002 7:09:42 PM PDT by XtreMarine
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To: dighton; MudPuppy; Orual; general_re; Poohbah; BlueLancer; Travis McGee
Thanks for the post.

John Ripley is the former head of a local college. I've notified people who knew him as well as the local paper of this story.

Quite a man!
27 posted on 08/17/2002 7:41:09 AM PDT by aculeus
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To: MudPuppy
Thanks for the ping.

Huh, I was a lowly Lance Corporal in Echo 2/2 when Col. Ripley was the CO of 1/2. Wonder if I ever passed by him.

Semper Fi, Godspeed Colonel Ripley

28 posted on 08/17/2002 8:33:51 AM PDT by Cap'n Crunch
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To: aculeus
BTTT!
29 posted on 08/17/2002 10:12:57 AM PDT by Travis McGee
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To: MudPuppy
Semper Fidelis
and
Get Well Soon, Col Ripley!
Well Done, Marines

30 posted on 08/17/2002 1:47:26 PM PDT by gunnyg
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To: MudPuppy
Bump.
31 posted on 08/17/2002 8:31:48 PM PDT by First_Salute
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To: MudPuppy
Once a Marine....ALWAYS a Marine!

I am PROUD to the CORPS!!!!

Semper F****g FI!!!

32 posted on 08/17/2002 8:50:17 PM PDT by Trident/Delta
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To: MudPuppy
ADDENDUM:
"Col Ripley Remembers...."

CLICK-HERE!!!!!

33 posted on 08/20/2002 6:21:49 AM PDT by gunnyg
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To: MudPuppy
bump
34 posted on 08/20/2002 6:24:41 AM PDT by oldvike
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