MCB HAWAII, KANEOHE BAY, Hawaii -- In June of 1957, many Marines in our beloved Marine Corps had not been born yet.
It this same year, a young man who had always dreamed of becoming a Marine, left his home in Radford, Va., at the age of 17, and took his first steps on a journey to Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S.C.
Retired Col. John Ripley's mother cried when he left home to join the Marines. His father beamed with pride he knew his son would succeed in becoming a member of the world's fighting force.
"When I went to boot camp, it was a tough experience," recalled the salty, blue-eyed colonel with a chuckle. "I was physically fit, and I was a tough kid, but no one could be prepared for what lied ahead of us. Twenty-five percent of the platoon did not make it through recruit training."
Ripley can still recall how the Marine Corps was everything he thought it would be and how he felt the day he pinned on the Eagle, Globe and Anchor.
It was only a year after Ripley had earned the title Marine that he was nominated to be a fleet appointee and earn a commission in the Marine Corps or Navy. In June of 1958, the private first class reported to the U.S. Naval Institute.
Although the determined, young warrior was usually first in all the inspections and set records on the obstacle course that to this day have yet been broken, academics were a tough challenge for him.
"I struggled for four years in most of my classes," recalled the colonel. "I had to work and study like crazy to stay abreast of the other students as far as academics were concerned.
"I remember in 1962 I was commissioned as a 2nd Lt. in the Corps, and let me tell you - I was ready to get back into the fleet," said Ripley. "The Marine Corps was already part of me, and I knew I wanted to be a Marine for the rest of my life."
After graduating from the Naval Academy, Ripley was granted one month of leave; however, the gung-ho warrior had no interest in going home and wasting time. He was ready to go back to the fleet as an infantry officer.
As a commanding officer, Ripley enjoyed leading his troops. He was the commanding officer of three companies and a reconnaissance platoon. He was the type of Marine that other Marines in his charge looked up to and respected as a leader. This proved to be an advantage when he led Lima Co., 3rd Bn., 3rd Marine Regiment into combat in the gruesome battles of Vietnam.
During the spring of 1972, in the mist of the Vietnam conflict, Ripley found himself in a desperate situation. More than 30,000 North Vietnamese troops were pushing through defensive points during a major assault when Ripley put himself in personal danger to set high explosives and destroy a key bridge in Dong Ha. This single act of bravery thwarted the North Vietnamese troops assault and destroyed 200 of their tanks in the process. Ripley later received the Navy Cross, the nation's second highest award for heroism, for his personal sacrifices in the line of duty.
Ripley returned to the Amphibious Warfare School after his tour in Vietnam to serve as an instructor, only to once again find himself longing for the action of front lines. He returned to Vietnam to serve as an advisor to the Vietnamese Marines.
"I was given a chance to serve with some magnificent warriors during my tours in Vietnam," he recalled with a touch of emotion. "There were Marines out there that would have put their lives on the line without thinking twice."
Ripley continued to serve in the Marine Corps after his second fight in Vietnam. He eventually attained the rank of colonel and retired from the Corps in 1992. Today, he continues to keep the Marine Corps close to his heart as he serves as the director of the Marine Corps History and Museums.
"If I can say anything to the Marines today, I would explain to them that being a Marine is a great privilege, never a right. It is something that you earn and if you prove to be good enough, then you can serve," said the colonel sternly. "If you ever think for a moment you can just take off your pack and call it quits, you are wrong.
"We have a tremendous legacy to uphold and everything we do must burnish that reputation," he continued. "There is no easy way to be a Marine and there never will be. You are a Marine every day and it is your responsibility to uphold the legacy that Marines in the past have so dearly established.