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John
Walter
Ripley
June 29, 1939

–

October 28, 2008

John Ripley graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Class of 1962. He retired as a Colonel of U.S. Marines.

Awards Received

  • Legion of Merit

    Service:

    United States Marine Corps

    Rank:

    Colonel

    Action Date:

    July 1984 – June 1987

    The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Colonel John Walter Ripley (MCSN: 0-84239/1653859), United States Marine Corps, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Marine Corps Representative and Director, Division of English and History, United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland, from July 1984 to June 1987. Colonel Ripley’s contributions as Division Director and ex-officio member of the numerous high level deliberative bodies had a lasting influence on the course of the Naval Academy and the Naval Service as a whole. As Marine Corps Representative, he spearheaded a dynamic information program whose success was unmatched in the history of the Academy. The heightened awareness of the role and capabilities of the Marine Corps and the enthusiasm for service as a Marine that was generated throughout the Brigade of Midshipmen was attributable directly to his personal involvement and to his superb leadership of the Marine Corps team at the Naval Academy. Colonel Ripley’s genuine commitment to the highest ideals of his service, frequently displayed as public forums where he lectured on the values of the military ethic, and his unflagging work to promote the aims of the Marine Corps, led to a substantially improved image of the Marines within the Brigade and within the community as a whole. By his adroit leadership, visionary farsightedness, and inspiring devotion to duty, Colonel Ripley reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Marine Corps

    Rank:

    Captain

    Batallion:

    3d Battalion

    Regiment:

    3d Marines

    Division:

    3d Marine Division (Rein.), FMF

    Action Date:

    August 21, 1967

    The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain John Walter Ripley (MCSN: 0-84239/1653859), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as Commanding Officer of Company L, Third Battalion, Third Marines, THIRD Marine Division, in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 21 August 1967, Company L was assigned the mission of reinforcing a convoy that had been surprised by a large enemy force and was pinned down. With one rifle platoon, a small command group, and accompanied by two M-42 dual 40-mm. anti-aircraft guns, Captain Ripley was leading the relief column when it suddenly came under intense enemy automatic weapons and recoilless rifle fire. Disregarding his own safety and the heavy volume of hostile fire, he moved to the machine gun mounted on the vehicle and opened fire, pinpointing the location of the well concealed North Vietnamese and enabling the 40-mm. guns to deliver accurate fire on the enemy positions. Directing his unit to dismount, he quickly organized a defensive perimeter while coordinating supporting artillery fire and simultaneously controlling the remainder of his company which was widely separated from his position. Repeatedly exposing himself to the hostile fire, he directed artillery fire and air strikes upon the attacking enemy force and courageously adjusted fire missions to within fifty meters of his position. Throughout the following three hours, his skillful employment of supporting arms and direction of the fire of his men repulsed the determined enemy attacks and forced the hostile units to flee in panic and confusion. His aggressiveness and outstanding professionalism were an inspiration to all who served with him and were instrumental in the successful extraction of his unit from an extremely hazardous situation. By his steadfast courage, superb leadership and unfaltering devotion to duty at great personal risk, Captain Ripley upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.

  • Legion of Merit

    Service:

    United States Marine Corps

    Rank:

    Colonel

    Action Date:

    July 1990 – June 1992

    The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Legion of Merit to Colonel John Walter Ripley (MCSN: 0-84239/1653859), United States Marine Corps, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Commanding Officer, Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) Unit, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia from July 1990 through June 1992. Through his energetic initiative, superb managerial skills, and dedicated focus on mission accomplishment, Colonel Ripley was responsible for the unit becoming one of the top NROTC units in the country. Using his foresight, innovations, and outstanding leadership, he developed and instituted the only Operational Leadership Naval Science course taught to Marine Option NROTC students which placed the Unit as one of the top producers in the Nation for the Nuclear Power Program with an accession rte of 33 percent above requirements and a ten percent increase in student academic grade point average performance. In addition to his regular duties, Colonel Ripley served on the Academic Board, Admissions Committee, and the Leadership Committee which enhanced the status of Navy programs on campus and contributed to the academic excellence of the institute. Because of his military bearing, exceptional expertise, and esprit de corps, he was respected and admired by all. Colonel Ripley’s tireless efforts, notable effectiveness, and total devotion to duty reflected great credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.

  • Navy Cross

    Service:

    United States Marine Corps

    Rank:

    Captain

    Batallion:

    3d Vietnamese Marine Corps Infantry Battalion

    Action Date:

    April 2, 1972
    Authority: Navy Department Board of Decorations and Medals

    The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Captain John W. Ripley (MCSN: MCSN: 0-84239/1653859), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism on 2 April 1972 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. In order to reposition the approximately 500 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.