Former Professor of Naval Science Dies at 69 

Col. John W. Ripley

Update, Nov. 5, 2008 --  Funeral services with full military honors will be held for retired Marine Col. John W. Ripley, on Friday, Nov.7 at noon at the United States Naval Academy Chapel.  Interment will take place at the Naval Academy Cemetery immediately following the service. (Information courtesy of the U.S. Naval Academy.)

LEXINGTON, Va., Nov. 3, 2008 – Retired Marine Col. John W. Ripley, who served as professor of naval science at VMI from August 1990 to June 1992, died at his Annapolis, Md., home Oct. 28, according to the Associated Press. 

The news service reported that Ripley’s son said the cause of death had not been determined but it appeared his father died in his sleep. He was 69.

Ripley won renown during the 1972 North Vietnamese Easter Offensive when he earned the Navy Cross. A captain, he was an adviser to a South Vietnamese marine battalion that found itself in the path of the North’s advance. Realizing the Dong Ha Bridge in the battalion’s sector in the northern border region was a key avenue for the North Vietnamese advance, Ripley set about destroying the bridge.

His actions, in addition to winning him the second-highest award for bravery, were recounted in the book, The Bridge at Dong Ha. A large diorama of the action titled “Ripley at The Bridge,” was installed in Memorial Hall at the Naval Academy as the single act to represent actions of all Academy men who fought in Vietnam.

Ripley held a succession of staff and command positions after Vietnam and before arriving at VMI for his last active duty assignment. While here, he was credited with creating the largest, most productive NROTC unit in the country.

He went on to become the president, and later chancellor, of Southern Virginia College in Buena Vista, Va., until 1996 when he moved on to assume responsibility as the president of the Hargrave Military Academy.

-VMI-

In the news:

“Marine Vietnam war hero passes away,” The Capital (Annapolis, Md.), Nov. 3, 2008

“John Ripley, Vietnam War hero, dies at age 69,” Associated Press, Nov. 3, 2008

“John W. Ripley,” Baltimore Sun, Nov. 3, 2008

"Col. John W. Ripley, Recognized for Valorious Service in Vietnam," Washington Post, Nov. 4, 2008