Comments for Do you know this man?

Do you know this man?

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 06:43:17 -0600

You should. In an interview, he said: "The idea that I would be able to even finish the job before the enemy got me was ludicrous. When you know you're not gonna make it, a wonderful thing happens: You stop being cluttered by the feeling that you're going to save your butt."

Comment from Damian on 2008-11-05

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 10:31:32 -0600

Some personal recollections from LtCol P at OPFOR.

Comment from Justthisguy on 2008-11-03

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 18:17:24 -0600

Libation duly spilled, here. Hmm, in the song it says they're cops in Heaven. Not that I'll ever know....

Comment from Grimmy on 2008-11-03

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 17:35:53 -0600

Sorry, forgot to add:

I have it on good authority that Manila John is actually standing eternal duty as the NCOIC of the machine gun emplacement covering the most likely avenues of approach in the COP forward of the Main Gate.

Comment from Grimmy on 2008-11-03

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 17:32:24 -0600

Mr. John, sir:

Those of the USMC that make the transfer over to the non-corporeal state are tasked with Consular Guard at the main HQ, as well as all stations of diplomatic importance in the outer reaches.

There is also the main gate that must be guarded, and all potential routs of ingress. Perimeter patrols must be maintained at full strength at all times.

Then there's the select few of the few and proud, like our *Quad Body Marine who's honored in this thread. Their duty assignment tends to consist of recon and interdiction missions into the lower depths of the deep dark pit.

Someone's gotta provide the security and over-watch for the Eternal Party for the stout hearts that have made the transition to the unphysical existence.

Semper Fi was never intended as just a cool slogan, dontcha know?

*A Quad Body denotes full training with Reconnaissance Marines, Army Rangers, Army Airborne, and British Royal Marines. (Definition provided by Corporal Seamus at Blackfive.)

Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2008-11-03

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 16:59:14 -0600

Dude, you *have* to be shi**en me. Your lot *pass* on the Slop Chute Bar and Grill? In what parallel universe do you live?

Manila John Basilone probably has a seat right next to the taps.

There's plenty of time for the rest.

Oh, sure, some of you may get drafted up to deal with Demons and Devils and other gatecrashers, but most of ya are bidin' your time at the Green.

Comment from Grimmy on 2008-11-03

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 16:47:46 -0600

When I saw the pic, I knew I'd seen it before. When I read the quote above the fold, I thought "Oh yeah, that's the Marine that blew the bridge".

A true Marines' Marine.

Rest in Peace, Warrior.

I don't believe Marines go to Fiddlers Green. Our tribe gets Gate Guard duty and perimeter patrol.

Semper Fi.

Comment from Katherine Optima Maximae on 2008-11-03

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 14:53:04 -0600

OOps..and I started to post this story a second time because I didn't scroll down far enough. My bad.

May the only bridges he has to cross be the single foot bridge over the quiet stream just before the main field at Fiddler's Green.

Comment from AFSister on 2008-11-03

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 13:30:16 -0600

I read about him last night and was embarassed to admit that I'd never heard that story, until he died. What a man.

Comment from Spanky on 2008-11-03

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 11:53:11 -0600

A American hero, may he rest in peace and may God bless his family.

Comment from Argent on 2008-11-03

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 11:43:26 -0600

I read this one. Sometimes the best stories are true. Amazing he lived through it really, I think he's amazed too. May he rest in peace.

Comment from John (not the armorer) on 2008-11-03

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 11:10:04 -0600

Heroes don't come any bigger, braver, or more deserving of our honor and recognition than Major Ripley.

He truly earned the MOH for his deeds.

God bless him and his family.

Comment from BillT on 2008-11-03

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 08:33:55 -0600

Ripley's actions would have been amazing if he had just made *one* trip to wire up the bridge. He did it a dozen times. He earned the MoH -- it just wasn't awarded to him.

The two companies of South Vietnamese Marines covering him fought to the last man.

No interpreters needed at Fiddler's Green -- everybody there understands each other perfectly...

Comment from Martin on 2008-11-03

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 08:31:07 -0600

Please don't take this the wrong way, but for some time now I have been thinking of a memorial for Jane and Walter when they are laid to rest. I know a lot of Vets don't think much of them. But hear me out, I would like to a short monument placed on there graves with the dates they were in Vietnam. Not to big and it should tilt off to the side just a bit. I'm thinking a gold plated tube. Perhaps two and a half foot tall and six inches across.

I know a lot of old vets will make the trip to ther graves to pay there respects and it would be a great relief to use a gold plated piss tube.

JMHO

Martin

Comment from Alan Briley, RN on 2008-11-03

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 08:19:14 -0600

A hard core man, and after the military he still had the guts to serve in higher education!
May the angels guard his family as well as he guarded our nation. I will raise a glass of Bushmill's Irish Whiskey AND a glass of Glenlivet Nadurra Single Malt Scotch in his honor tonight!

And tomorrow I will vote to honor his sacrifices so we could continue to be free!

Alan Briley, RN
Paratrooper, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment
82nd Airborne Division, United States Army

Comment from emdfl on 2008-11-03

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 08:04:43 -0600

Picked up the book by accident while I was working in Beijing this past year. That was as close to an unbelieveable a story as I've ever read. And it wasn't like he just went out once to wire the damn thing because he "had" to.
OT but on the same war, if I don't do anything else, I want to find cronkite's grave and piss on it.

Comment from Semper Fi Wife on 2008-11-03

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 07:52:15 -0600

Guarding Heavan's Gates now....
Rest in peace, Col. Ripley.