John Ripley Posthumously Receives Medal of Honor

In 1972, a Marine Captain named John W Ripley was in Vietnam assigned to Vietnamese Marines to hold the North Vietnamese Army from invading Saigon. Morale for the Americans was dwindling. The Communist forces have their eyes on the capital of South Vietnam.

As part of the Easter Offensive, the goal of the NVA was to cross the Cua Viet River just north of the town of Dong Ha. Ripley and 700 South Vietnamese Marines were in position to take on 30,000 Communist forces.

A bridge built by Seabees was the only way for the NVA to cross and complete their objective successfully. For Ripley, he studied the bridge that had 100 ft girders that were three feet by three feet in length and height, which he had to plant explosives. Thanks to his Ranger training, he was able to move 500lbs of explosives under the bridge.

While planting the explosives, Ripley was shot at, suffered fatigue from his body, cuts from barbed wire, yet he uttered a short prayer, “Jesus, Mary, get me there”. It would pay off. He completed his objective, and the offensive was halted for another three years.

On June 18th, President Trump awarded Ripley the Congressional Medal of Honor along with two other retired veterans. Ripley's family was present for the solemn ceremony. 

"Our father loved the Marine Corps and viewed his actions at Dong Ha Bridge not as heroism, but as simply doing his duty. He was a Marine doing what he was trained to do. We accept these honors not just as a tribute to his individual actions, but as an enduring testament to the courage, sacrifice, and brotherhood of all the men who fought by his side.” Said Thomas Ripley, his son.

John Ripley served in the Marine Corps for 35 years. He lived out his Catholic faith until his death in October 2008.

To learn more about John Ripley, read this article from TFP and order his biography, An American Knight, written by his friend, Norman Fulkerson.

Semper Fi, Marine!

Well done, good and faithful servant