Đông Hà, the crown jewel of South Vietnam’s north, was once a hub of military activity. Playing host to the 4th Marine Division and a busy helicopter base, it was surrounded by critical artillery outposts that supported troops at Con Thien and the Eastern DMZ. As well, Đông Hà served as a vital nerve center for resupply missions to the Khe Sanh garrison and featured a strategically important bridge spanning the Cửa Việt River.
Five years earlier, the area was bustling with 50,000 Marines who formed an impressive defense against the looming threat of a North Vietnamese (NVA) invasion. However, on March 30, 1972, a battalion of South Vietnamese Marines faced a startling reality: a massive enemy force of 30,000 soldiers, supported by 200 main battle tanks (MBTs). Unbeknownst to the NVA troops, an American hero, US Marine Corps Capt. John Ripley, remained hidden in the shadows of the city, ready to defy the odds.
John Ripley had a lifetime of preparation
John Ripley was a daring child, driven to excel. Following the path of his two older brothers, he enlisted in the US Marine Corps after graduating from high school in 1957. The rigorous training at the renowned Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island sharpened his ambition into an unstoppable force.
Recognizing Ripley’s talent and tenacity, he secured a coveted spot at the US Naval Academy despite facing academic challenges. Through sheer perseverance, he earned a degree in electrical engineering and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1962.
At the Basic School in Quantico, Virginia, Ripley dedicated himself to learning the art of leading an infantry platoon. After graduating, he took on roles as a rifle and weapons platoon commander, as well as a force reconnaissance platoon commander. His thirst for knowledge and adventure led him to pursue further training, attending the US Army’s Parachute, Jump Master, and Ranger courses, along with the US Navy’s Underwater Demolitions and Scuba courses.
Within Marine circles, Ripley earned distinction as “dual cool,” earning both a Scuba Badge and Jump Wings, symbolizing his multifaceted expertise and remarkable dedication.
Ripley’s Raiders and the British Royal Marines
In October 1966, John Ripley assumed command of “Ripley’s Raiders,” leading them in combat at both Con Thien and Khe Sanh. Despite sustaining four wounds, he declined multiple Purple Hearts due to the policy of immediate evacuation for such injuries at the time.
Following his service in Vietnam, Ripley became an exchange officer with the British Royal Marines. After successfully completing the Commando Course, he became only the third person to accomplish a “quad bod” – completing training in Jump, Ranger, Navy SEAL and Commando programs – and was awarded the Green Beret of the Royal Marines.
Leading troops in both the Royal Marines and the Royal Navy’s Special Boat Service (SBS), Ripley undertook missions in Malaya and Norway. Despite being assigned to a desk job at Headquarters Marine Corps in late 1971, he volunteered for redeployment to Vietnam.
John Ripley joined the Vietnamese Marine Corps
John Ripley, surrounded by a dwindling band of US Marines in Vietnam, was about to witness the culmination of his meticulous preparations, though he was unaware of it at the time. Serving as a senior advisor to the 3rd Vietnamese Marine Battalion, his seasoned combat experience was important as the South Vietnamese Army faced a critical moment in time.
By 1972, the once-mighty American force of over half a million had diminished to a mere 27,000. The South Vietnamese, plagued by undertrained conscripts and leadership issues, faced escalating losses against their Northern adversaries, who were their stark opposites in many respects.
However, amid this struggle, the Vietnamese Marine Corps distinguished itself. These battle-hardened soldiers refined their skills under Vietnamese instructors trained at the Parris Island Drill Instructor School. Led by officers who graduated from the Basic School, they operated as a rapid deployment unit, enduring grueling six-month combat tours followed by just one month of rest at their home base.
Recently re-equipped near Saigon, the 3rd Battalion was now back at full strength and prepared for action.
A US Marine may be outnumbered, but never outfought
On March 30, 1972, the North Vietnamese attacked. Intense artillery from the north of the DMZ was followed by assaults that quickly erased the forces guarding the northern approaches. Those not overrun were sent fleeing down Highway 1.
The 3rd Battalion was shifted to protect the vital bridge that provided passage over the Cửa Việt, at Đông Hà. The 304th and 308th NVA Infantry Divisions were rolling south with 200 main battle tanks. On April 1, the 3rd ARVN Division was ordered to retreat. The North Vietnamese bore down on Đông Hà. As troops streamed south, the Marines were facing an impossible task: fighting 30,000 enemy troops.
Passing hordes of refugees, they moved into their final positions and heard someone say, “Expect lots of tanks,” over the radio. They had with them just 10 light anti-tank rockets, making them almost defenseless. The 20th Tank Battalion arrived, and the Marines clambered aboard for their final movement to the bridge.
They had to stop the NVA troops from crossing the bridge
Scouts had already begun to traverse the river upstream, using a worn-out railroad bridge primarily intended for pedestrian traffic. John Ripley, situated within the tank, directed its firepower, effectively repelling the advancing enemy. At the same time, machine guns and mortars positioned on the opposing bank unleashed a relentless barrage against both the tanks and the Marines, while the enemy forces regrouped behind a slight elevation that provided cover from the tank assault.
The small convoy of Marines aboard M48 Pattons proceeded cautiously, encircled by a stream of displaced civilian refugees. A formation of T-54s, supplied by the Soviets, emerged on the opposite side of the river and became targets for the 20th Marine contingent.
However, with their superior firepower, the T-54s posed a serious threat to the M48s; in direct confrontations, the smaller tanks would inevitably suffer heavy losses. Understanding the necessity of reaching the bridge first, the Marines were acutely aware that if the enemy managed to cross, the battle – and potentially the entire conflict – may be lost.
John Ripley’s mad dash
The M48s stopped well away from the bridge. The Marines climbed down and continued on foot. Ripley watched the lead T-54 reach the structure and begin to cross, at which point a Marine with an anti-tank rocket hit the tank. The stricken vehicle pulled back to a covered position.
Under enemy fire, Ripley made a mad dash to an old bunker some 100 meters from his position and 100 meters from the bridge. Accompanying him was his Vietnamese radioman, Maj. Jim Smock, an advisor with the 20th. A vicious firefight began as the pair made their last dash to the bridge, praying there would be a way to bring it down upon their arrival.
Đông Hà Bridge
A bundle of explosives had been delivered, but hadn’t been prepped for use. The bridge was constructed of steel I-beams, overlaid with steel decking and two feet of timber sitting atop six-feet-thick concrete supports. As such, it could only be brought down via demolition.
Since the bridge’s deck was fully exposed to enemy fire, the only way to set the explosives was by hand and from underneath. From beneath the bridge, John Ripley would be able to slide cases of TNT between the edges of the I-beams to a point in the middle of the river and set satchel charges to cut them. There were six I-beams in total, creating five “channels” through which he’d need to drag explosives.
Setting the charges
Once he’d climbed over the fence, Ripley’s legs were shredded by the razor-sharp concertina wire protecting the south end of the bridge. Despite this, he went hand-over-hand under the bridge amid the enemy fire. He finally reached the concrete support 90 meters away, and swung himself up and into the channel created by the I-beams.
Setting charges to cut the beam, Ripley traveled back down the channel. Smock passed him two 75-pound TNT cases and satchel charges, which he dragged back again. He set the charges to cut the other beam – one channel was rigged, but there were still four more to go.
Destroying the bridge
Two hours later, completely spent, all the channels were finally set to detonate. Dropping to the ground and curling into a ball, Ripley rested for only a moment before retrieving primer cord and crimping the blasting caps. He then looped the coils over his shoulders and crawled back out, legs dangling and drawing fire.
Having set the cord alight with matches, Ripley crawled out once more to set a backup detonator with electrical caps. Returning to the bunker seemed to take an eternity, as Ripley’s legs woodenly refused to move quickly. He ran under fire from the other side of the river, and, with a gut-wrenching, earthshaking explosion, the bridge was finally destroyed.
Bitter aftermath
The Marines and South Vietnamese tankers continued to hold Đông Hà. An attack from the west cut through to Highway 1 south of the city, but they continued to fight, despite being surrounded.
One by one, the M48s were destroyed or ran out of gas. Ordered to breakout, the surviving tankers shouldered rifles and joined the Marines. Continuing the fight at Quảng Trị, the 3rd Battalion was finally pulled out of the line. Of the 700 men who’d begun the fight, only 52 remained.
The Easter Offensive was beaten by the North’s inability to capture Đông Hà quickly. Eventually, they withdrew. Three years later, they returned, this time for good.
John Ripley’s further service in the US Marine Corps
John Ripley remained in the US Marine Corps, eventually commanding an infantry battalion and, then, an infantry regiment. Always attempting to evade a desk job, he finally found one he enjoyed at the US Naval Academy as an English and History instructor. Later on, he was the commander of the Naval Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) unit at the Virginia Military Institute (VMI), in his native Virginia.
Retiring as a colonel in 1992, Ripley accepted a position as the Dean, then, later, as chancellor of Southwestern Virginia College, before moving to the Hargrave Military Academy. He returned to duty in July 1999, to lead the US Marine Corps History and Museums Division. He passed away on October 28, 2008.
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John Ripley earned the Navy Cross for his heroic actions on the bridge at Đông Hà, but the legacy he was most proud of was having commissioned over 500 young Marines between his time at the US Naval Academy and the VMI.