I would love to see Albert Clark Welch finally receive the MoH that he so richly earned in Vietnam as well. You can read about his exploits in David Maraniss' book 'They Marched Into Sunlight'. Clark was my battalion commander...and my friend later on until his passing almost ten years ago.
"The things you can do when you stop believing you can save your butt." His words. Not to read his mind at that moment in time, but one can interpret he had literally "given himself to...a higher power". The physical demands of what he did...with people actively trying to kill him, appear superhuman, and almost beyond comprehension. Devine intervention? Perhaps. Full bore? Absolutely times one hundred. Medal of Honor? Without a doubt. As always, thank you CDR Salamander, for telling these tales of bravery and service before self.
Colonel Ripley said he used his Catholic upbringing and recitation of the rosary as he clambered all over that bridge, said it added to his strength and it took his mind off the intangibles, (like being shot) so he could focus on the task at hand. He said he had given over to a higher power, and as noted figured he wasn’t likely to make it out of the mess, but was not going to quit.
Then Lt. Colonel Ridley took over 1st Battalion 2nd Marines sometime in the spring of 1979. It was a hulking mess, classic show me a lousy Battalion and I will show you a lousy Battalion Commander. Over at 3/2 we were on Air Contingency and ramped up, but the moment John Ridley took command everything changed. He was the quintessential “real deal.” He loved the Marine Corps, he mentored and led and everyone wanted to be in his orbit. He loved the USNA. He made everyone around better. It is too bad he is not here to receive the MOH in person. But, while too long over due, better late than never. Great post CDR Salamander, many thanks for this one.
I worked his funeral. It was one of the few that got to me. After, I drove his daughter home. A few years later I assisted in the donation of his AK-47 to the USNA museum. For a moment I was permitted to be near greatness. His MOH is long overdue.
My family and I are the humble owners of the Ripley House in Annapolis. The home he purchased upon retirement. I was a midshipman when he was our senior marine. My son and his grandson as classmates. We are thankful for the President’s leadership in righting an overlooked wrong.
I had the distinct honor of meeting Colonel Ripley when he was the keynote speaker for the 2D ANGLICO Marine Ball in 96 when I was a Naval Gunfire Liaison Officer. I had known of his heroics from my first visit to the Naval Academy when I was 14 and that I was impressed to meet him because I'd thought that he died in the action, as well as disappointed because I thought that he'd earned the Medal of Honor for it. He snickered, and thanked me and although it is too late, glad to see that he is getting that recognition for action above and beyond.
2. In the the Army, we have a quip. "You get the DSC instead of the MOH, when somebody doesn't like you". He piss somebody off? or Were there no other Marines senior to him as witnesses, only the Army officer...
No. The rules then (don’t know about now) required two American witnesses to the reaction. Colonel Ripley was the US advisor to a Vietnamese Marine battalion. There was only one other American present, an Army major, who also was an advisor to a Vietnamese unit. But you are right that the MOH is long overdue.
I count myself lucky to have become friends with Colonel Ripley in ‘91 or ‘92, shortly after he had testified for VMI when the government had sued to require it to admit women.
It is impossible to put in an article of this nature everything that should be considered in connection with his heroics at the bridge. But, among other things, he was under regular rifle and machine gun fire from the north shore of the river, plus at least one direct fire tank round aimed at him personally. Yet he kept going out for repeated trips to plant the explosives, despite that fire and everything else.
I would love to see Albert Clark Welch finally receive the MoH that he so richly earned in Vietnam as well. You can read about his exploits in David Maraniss' book 'They Marched Into Sunlight'. Clark was my battalion commander...and my friend later on until his passing almost ten years ago.
Thanks yon
Had his actions been scripted for a summer blockbuster, the audience would have scoffed at the implausibility of it all. Yet, the man actually did it.
Semper Fi Colonel. R.I.P., Sir.
"The things you can do when you stop believing you can save your butt." His words. Not to read his mind at that moment in time, but one can interpret he had literally "given himself to...a higher power". The physical demands of what he did...with people actively trying to kill him, appear superhuman, and almost beyond comprehension. Devine intervention? Perhaps. Full bore? Absolutely times one hundred. Medal of Honor? Without a doubt. As always, thank you CDR Salamander, for telling these tales of bravery and service before self.
Colonel Ripley said he used his Catholic upbringing and recitation of the rosary as he clambered all over that bridge, said it added to his strength and it took his mind off the intangibles, (like being shot) so he could focus on the task at hand. He said he had given over to a higher power, and as noted figured he wasn’t likely to make it out of the mess, but was not going to quit.
Then Lt. Colonel Ridley took over 1st Battalion 2nd Marines sometime in the spring of 1979. It was a hulking mess, classic show me a lousy Battalion and I will show you a lousy Battalion Commander. Over at 3/2 we were on Air Contingency and ramped up, but the moment John Ridley took command everything changed. He was the quintessential “real deal.” He loved the Marine Corps, he mentored and led and everyone wanted to be in his orbit. He loved the USNA. He made everyone around better. It is too bad he is not here to receive the MOH in person. But, while too long over due, better late than never. Great post CDR Salamander, many thanks for this one.
"mentored and led"
Yes.
He absolutely deserves the MoH.
"You stop being cluttered by the feeling that you're going to save you butt." Full bore, indeed!
I worked his funeral. It was one of the few that got to me. After, I drove his daughter home. A few years later I assisted in the donation of his AK-47 to the USNA museum. For a moment I was permitted to be near greatness. His MOH is long overdue.
My family and I are the humble owners of the Ripley House in Annapolis. The home he purchased upon retirement. I was a midshipman when he was our senior marine. My son and his grandson as classmates. We are thankful for the President’s leadership in righting an overlooked wrong.
Wow, I can't even imagine how strong he must have been. How many current recruits could hope to do even half that??
I had the distinct honor of meeting Colonel Ripley when he was the keynote speaker for the 2D ANGLICO Marine Ball in 96 when I was a Naval Gunfire Liaison Officer. I had known of his heroics from my first visit to the Naval Academy when I was 14 and that I was impressed to meet him because I'd thought that he died in the action, as well as disappointed because I thought that he'd earned the Medal of Honor for it. He snickered, and thanked me and although it is too late, glad to see that he is getting that recognition for action above and beyond.
We are undeserving of such
Times a hundred...
Two comments.
1. I've seen that long bridge (70)
2. In the the Army, we have a quip. "You get the DSC instead of the MOH, when somebody doesn't like you". He piss somebody off? or Were there no other Marines senior to him as witnesses, only the Army officer...
Long overdue
No. The rules then (don’t know about now) required two American witnesses to the reaction. Colonel Ripley was the US advisor to a Vietnamese Marine battalion. There was only one other American present, an Army major, who also was an advisor to a Vietnamese unit. But you are right that the MOH is long overdue.
I count myself lucky to have become friends with Colonel Ripley in ‘91 or ‘92, shortly after he had testified for VMI when the government had sued to require it to admit women.
It is impossible to put in an article of this nature everything that should be considered in connection with his heroics at the bridge. But, among other things, he was under regular rifle and machine gun fire from the north shore of the river, plus at least one direct fire tank round aimed at him personally. Yet he kept going out for repeated trips to plant the explosives, despite that fire and everything else.
On behalf of a grateful nation 🇺🇸