"Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee . . . " - Joshua 1:9 which Captain Russell B. Rippetoe had engraved on the back of his dogtags.

Captain Russell B. Rippetoe
A CO 3/75th Ranger Regiment
July 21, 1975 - April 3, 2003

Captain Rippetoe was born July 21, 1975 in Heidelberg, Germany, to Joe and Rita Rippetoe, where LTC Joe Rippetoe was stationed. After an assignment in Bellvue, Nebraska, the Rippetoe family moved to Broomfield, Colorado in 1988. Russell attended Broomfield High School, where he was a multi-sport athelete and involved in numerous extracurricular activities. He was chosen co-captain of the high school soccer team as well as Homecoming King. Russell graduated from Metropolitan State College of Denver an received his commission from the University of Colorado-Boulder's ROTC program in 1999. He subsequently attended Ranger Training. His first assignment was in the IVIII Airborne Corps at fort Bragg, N.C.

Captain Rippetoe was then assigned as a Fire Support Officer to Alpha Company, 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, based at Fort Benning Georgia. Captain Rippetoe served in Afghanistan during 2002 and was called to serve in Operation Iraqi Freedom in March 2003. Captain Rippetoe was killed in action April 3, 2003. Alpha Company was manning a coalition checkpoint near the Hadithah Dam, Northwest of Baghdad, when a vehicle with three Iraqi civilians, including a pregnant woman, approached. As Captain Rippetoe moved towards the vehicle to assist members of Alpha Company, one of the passengers detonated a set of explosives, killing the occupants, Captain Rippetoe, Sergeant Nino Livaudais, and Specialist Ryan Long. Specialist Chad Thibodeau and Specialist Kyle Smith were badly injured. Captain Rippetoe was buried with honors at Arlington National Cemetery on April 10, 2003. Captain Rippetoe's awards and decorations include two Bronze Stars (Valor), the Purple Heart, two Army Commendation Medals, the Army Service Ribbon, the Ranger Tab and the Parachutist Badge.

Captain Rippetoe is remembered by many for his great smile, infectious laugh and fun-loving spirit. He will forever be missed and loved by those who knew him.

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