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Richard Mahlon Ripley, a man who went from a distinguished Bird Colonel with over 38 awards and decorations to a humble student at a university to continue his education. Fresh out of Vietnam he went into a college full of Anti-Vietnam War protesters, as you can guess after two and a half years of college he was no longer acting like a Bird Colonel. To quote him “After two and a half years there, I had transitioned” (interview). One time when he was late to class his teacher asked him what it was like to be in a college full of anti-Vietnam protesters, to this his response was “I don’t really mind now, but a few years ago I would’ve had a job for you as point-man” (interview).
Richard Mahlon Ripley was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on the 23rd of august, 1922. Ripley was the oldest of five children born to Julius and Harriet Ripley. In 1942 he enlisted in the U.S. Army, within a year he was commissioned 2nd lieutenant 3, two years later he was commissioned 2nd lieutenant, regular army. In May of 1966 Ripley was promoted to Colonel, by 1973 he retired from active mi...