Ripley’s Raiders

Monument Dedication Ceremony

March 2, 2012

After a short invocation presented by Captain Keane USN Chaplain Corps to a standing room only crowd the ceremony was moved down the serpentine path leading to the site of the monument. One hour prior to the ceremony, workers were still putting the finishing touches on the monument.

As the ceremony began it began to rain as Chuck Goggin called for the presentation of the colors by the color guard. After the presentation the colors were retired and he first speaker former Army Lieutenant L. Steven Moore, who was commander of 1/44 Dusters attached to Lima Company in 1967 was introduced. The next speaker was Colonel Tom Bailey, who served as executive officer to John Ripley when he was a first lieutenant in 1967. The last speaker was Paul Galanti, a classmate of John Ripley at Annapolis and former POW in Vietnam. After less than 12 minutes or formalities the monument was unveiled.

Unveiling of the monument with the assistance of the monument artist William Duffy.

                John Paul Ripley representing the Ripley family thanked the Raiders for creating the Memorial Trust and erecting the monument. He stated that of all his father’s achievements he was most proud of the accomplishments of L/3/3 while he was the “skipper”.

                The monolith has 5 faces, the front is dedicated to John W Ripley, the other four list all the names of the 438 Marines and Corpsmen who served under Ripley’s command in 1967.

                Ripley’s Raiders Logo depicting a skull and cross bones superimposed over the Ace of Spades (the death card). Bronze plaque replica of the wooden original carved by Battalion Surgeon John P Miller MD in July 1967.