VFW Names Ripullone Co-Grand Marshal of Memorial Day Parade

The Port Veterans of Foreign Wars has selected Peter Ripullone, a decorated soldier and architect as co-Grand Marshal of this year’s Memorial Day Parade.

The Ripullone family has a long tradition of military service, which goes back to the Spanish American War, World War I and World War II.

Ripullone followed the family tradition and entered military service as a second lieutenant in the Army in 1966. After completing his combat engineering training, he was certified as a commander.

Prior to his service in Vietnam, Ripullone served three months with the 91st Combat Engineers assisting in the training of West Point cadets at the U.S. Military Academy in the various combat engineering missions.

After his West Point deployment, Ripullone was assigned to the First Combat Engineer Battalion in the First Infantry Division (The Big Red One) in Vietnam.

Ripullone's served in Vietnam was from November of 1966 to November 1967. Shortly after arriving with the 1st Engineers, 1st Infantry, he was thrown into one of the first major operations of the war called Cedar Falls.

The operation took place in war zone C between Saigon and the Michelin rubber plantation in a known Viet Cong (VC) stronghold called the Iron Triangle. His immediate mission was to remove a critical collapsed bridge leading into the Iron Triangle. The bridge had been blown up by the VC and was a critical logistical element for the operation. His platoon worked through the night to clear the demolished bridge and rebuild a new bridge with other engineers in 24 hours while exposed to the enemy.            

Ripullone's next Vietnam mission was a search, destroy and clear operation to expose VC tunnels, fortifications, mines and booby traps. Using his dozer clearing and mine sweeping demolition teams and working with the 173rd Airborne troops, they proceeded into the Iron Triangle. During this operation his troops and the 173rd Airborne were involved in substantial conflicts with the VC.             Later in the year his company was involved in Operation Junction City. His unit built three airfields in three locations in VC areas near Cambodia (one airfield built in 6 days) while working with 1st Infantry fellow units. They also helped expand special forces camps and other nearby facilities. All of this work was accomplished in spite of serious VC conflicts and dangerous VC harassment.

His last assignment in Vietnam was as a company executive officer and company commander of the battalion’s headquarters and heavy equipment company which had him flying to multiple base camp and special forces locations. This always involved exposure to various enemy dangers.

Upon leaving Vietnam and active military service, he served three years in the active Army Reserves and one year in the standby Army Reserves.

He left the reserves as a captain. He has received 8 federal awards: Two Bronze Stars, one for valor, one Army Commendation Medal for valor, Vietnam Service Medal with Campaign stars, National Defense Service Medal, Meritorious Unit Citations (three) and 2 awards from the Republic of Vietnam: Gallantry Cross Medal with silver star for valor and Campaign Medal. He will be receiving two New York State awards.

He is currently a trustee of VFW Henderson-Marino Post 1819 and a member of American Legion Post 509, both in Port Washington. He is also a member of Vietnam Veterans of America and the Vietnam War Veterans Association. He is dedicated to promoting work with Veterans and the community. He has been a Port Washington Resident since 1994.

Information provided by John Chalker, commander Henderson-Marino VFW Post 1819.