What defines the essence of a nation? Is it the boundless expanse of its lands, the might of its military, or the wealth of its resources? No, the true spirit of a country resides in the hearts of its people – their loyalty, courage, and faith in the face of adversity. I have a story for you that embodies the essence of American patriotism. The story of an American Knight!
Colonel John W. Ripley, a true American hero and devout Catholic, exemplified the virtues of patriotism, valor, and moral courage throughout his extraordinary life and military career. Born in 1939 to a military family in Virginia, whose lineage goes back to the Revolutionary War. His World War I veteran father and devoutly faithful mother instilled in him a profound sense of duty and a resolute moral compass from an early age. At just 17, Ripley enlisted in the Marines, his dedication and leadership leading to an appointment at the U.S. Naval Academy. Commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1962, he embarked on a storied career defined by acts of bravery and an unwavering adherence to his faith's teachings.
In 1972, during the North Vietnamese Army's massive Easter Offensive, Captain John Ripley faced overwhelming odds defending the strategic village of Dong Ha. With 200 enemy tanks and 30,000 soldiers bearing down, capturing Dong Ha hinged on crossing a vital bridge. Ordered to "hold and die" against such forces, Ripley instead volunteered for a seemingly impossible mission - to single-handedly demolish the bridge, an act requiring unparalleled courage and faith.
For hours, Ripley clung precariously beneath the bridge, exposing himself to withering enemy fire as he methodically planted over 500 pounds of explosives along the span's supports. Exhausted yet resolute, his body begged for relief, but he couldn't falter with so many lives at stake. To persevere, Ripley composed a simple rhyming prayer: "Jesus, Mary, get me there..." which he repeated, allowing supernatural assistance to aid his mission at the direst moments. According to Col. John Miller, “He had to bite down on the blasting caps to attach them to the fuses...If he bit too low on the blasting cap, it could come loose; if he bit too high, it could blow his head apart.”
Finally, the timed fuses lit, Ripley scrambled to safety just seconds before a thunderous explosion roared through the valley, twisting and collapsing the Dong Ha bridge into a mangled heap - the lynchpin for invasion destroyed. Ripley's impossible mission altered the war's course through a single, heroic act of bravery and faith. The bottleneck it created allowed American bombers to blunt the offensive. His extraordinary valor immortalized Captain Ripley as a Marine of legendary courage and spiritual fortitude, earning him the Navy Cross.
Ripley's heroism extended beyond the battlefield; after retiring from active duty, he became an advocate for ethical military conduct and a lecturer on leadership and moral integrity, often highlighting the importance of character, moral courage, and faith. His deep Catholic faith, as a Knight of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta and a lay member of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre, underpinned his advocacy for the sanctity of life and the truth of the Faith.
One of the most poignant examples of Col. Ripley's moral courage came when he spoke out against including homosexuals in the military and integrating women into combat roles. He firmly believed these changes would undermine effectiveness and morale, driven by his belief in natural law and Catholic teachings - stances for which he faced significant backlash yet stood firm.
In a testimony before Congress in 1993, Col. Ripley argued that the presence of homosexuals in the military would lead to a breakdown in unit cohesion and discipline. He said, "Americans are decent, God-fearing people. They do not consider homosexuality to be decent, normal, or acceptable, and they will not permit their children to be around those who have a propensity or even exposure to this type of conduct; therefore, your military will become one of deviants!... It is a perversion of nature, it is a perversion of God's law, it is a perversion of statutory law."
Similarly, Ripley opposed women in combat roles, stating, "We simply do not want our women to fight" and be subjected to the "horrors of the battlefield." He vividly described grueling tasks like extracting wounded soldiers from downed helicopters as potentially impossible for most women due to physical and psychological demands. Ripley raised concerns over potential mistreatment of captured female soldiers violating the Geneva Conventions, citing a real case of a female pilot who experienced this during the Gulf War, stating, "Does that come as a surprise to anyone? Those that permitted this to happen, who sent her on that mission, should be themselves admonished, if not court-martialed."
