Nearly six decades after two Marines performed the extraordinary acts of heroism that would eventually earn them the Medal of Honor, the Commandant of the Marine Corps says their long-awaited recognition represents something far greater than correcting the historical record. It represents a promise. Retired Maj. James Capers Jr. received the nation's highest award for valor for his actions leading a reconnaissance patrol deep behind enemy lines in Vietnam. At the same ceremony, the family of the late Col. John Ripley accepted the Medal of Honor on his behalf, nearly 18 years after his death, recognizing the Marine officer whose actions destroying the Dong Ha Bridge helped blunt North Vietnam's 1972 Easter Offensive. For Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Eric Smith, the ceremonies were not simply about two legendary Marines finally receiving the recognition many believed they deserved decades ago. They were about reaffirming one of the Corps' oldest commitments. "It's never too late to right a wrong," Smith told Military.com during an exclusive interview.
The actions of Major Capers and Colonel Ripley are legendary in the Marine Corps, and they were deserving of the Medal of Honor at the time of their actions. It's never too late to right a wrong.
