Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Requiescat in Pace

Colonel John Walter Ripley



Ripley at the Bridge.

"I'll never forget that order, 'hold and die'," Ripley said. The only way to stop the enormous force with their tiny force was to destroy the bridge, he said.

"The idea that I would be able to even finish the job before the enemy got me was ludicrous," Ripley said. "When you know you're not going to make it, a wonderful thing happens: You stop being cluttered by the feeling that you're going to save your butt."

1 comment:

  1. Wow. That was one from the past. I (muscledaddy's brother) graduated from Annapolis in 1991. There is a diorama in "memorial hall" of that photo. It is actually one of the very first things a new plebe sees upon attending the academy. Its a little late now for the election, but we'll all have some hanging on to do for the next four years. Thank you ever so much for showing that.

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