Herbert S. 'Bud' Ripley

Born Sept. 8, 1923, in Orofino, he was the son of Herbert Fisher Ripley and Effie Josephine Johanson. After graduating from Orofino High School in 1941, Bud was hired by White Pine Lumber Company as a mill hand. In June 1942, he was hired by the U.S. Forest Service as a fire guard to protect forests, suppress fires, maintain lines, trails and conduct road work, with some time spent at Bertha Hill Lookout near Headquarters in earlier summer duty. He was one of the first people to have personal items stolen by the Ridgerunner. In October 1942, he was inducted into the U.S. Army Air Forces as a second lieutenant, heading to Washington State College in February 1943 for pre-flight training. He graduated in only two months. Bud earned his wings at La Junta Army Flying School in La Junta, Colo., specializing in two-engine pilot school, graduating in February 1944.

While receiving operational flight training for troop carrier command duty near Sedalia, Mo., Bud met Mary Annita Hood at a dance at the Bothwell Hotel in Sedalia. They later married on Aug. 10, 1944. Three days later, Bud headed for the European theater of operations, arriving at Welford Park, England, after piloting a Douglas C-47 with stops in Indiana, Maine, Canada, Iceland, Ireland and Scotland before arriving overseas.

During his active service as a C-47 pilot in World War II, he was assigned to the 9th Army Air Force, 435th Trooper Carrier Group, 75th Squadron. Bud flew 17 combat missions including the battles of Northern France, Southern France, Market Garden, Ardennes (Battle of the Bulge), Bastogne, Rhineland and Central Europe. His duties as a C-47 pilot participating in aerial flights included dropping paratroopers into combat zones, towing gliders, delivering supplies to troops (Sky Train), evacuating wounded soldiers, ferrying officers, transporting prisoners of war and sometimes landing on airfields under enemy attack. He received an Oak Leaf Cluster on May 21, 1945, for exhibiting superb airmanship in the continuous delivery of essential supplies to Allied armies against the enemy and in the air evacuation of wounded. During the Battle of Ardennes, the 435th delivered vital combat supplies to the 101st Airborne at Bastogne.

As part of Operation Varsity on March 24, 1945, he was part of the largest airborne operation in history, with Bud dropping part of the 9th Airborne across the Rhine while towing double gliders, the first time that had been done in combat. This operation involved a 500-mile Sky Train of C-47s dropping an estimated 40,000 troops north of Wesel, the first push into Germany.

After receiving an honorable discharge as a first lieutenant with two Oak Leaf Clusters, five Bronze Stars, the Army Air Medal and Presidential Unit Citation Bars, Bud made his home in Orofino with Mary. Bud was hired by Interstate Telephone Company, which was a subsidiary of General Telephone Corporation in the late 1940s. He transferred to Coeur d'Alene with General Telephone in 1968, retiring in 1986. After retirement, Bud and Mary moved to Lewiston.

Bud was a skilled woodsman, mechanic, carpenter and excellent cook, famously known for anything sourdough, homemade noodles and campground hashbrowns. His favorite place on Earth was camping on the Lochsa River. Many happy memories as a family were spent there over many years and several generations.

Bud was a loving son, brother, husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, dedicated to his family, as well as a fine friend. A man of good cheer, he was full of humor and never passed on an opportunity to pass along a funny story or witty remark.

Bud was preceded in death by his parents; an infant daughter, Marlis Kay Ripley; and his sister, Mary Ellen Ripley Durant and her husband X.E. "Bus" Durant.

He is survived by his bride of 71 years, Mary Hood Ripley of Lewiston; and four sons, Mike Ripley and wife Sharon of Lewiston, Richard Ripley and wife Jill of Spokane, Dan Ripley of Bellingham, Wash., and Jeff Ripley of the Tri-Cities. Bud is also survived by seven grandchildren, Carrie and Chris, Angela and Molly, Tyler and Sam, and Chelsey; as well as 10 great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at Malcom's Brower-Wann Funeral Home at 1711 18th St., Lewiston.

The family suggests any memorial contributions be made to the Orofino Fire Department, P.O. Box 1028, Orofino, ID 83544. The Ripley family has a long history of firefighters, including three generations in Orofino. Bud's dad was a two-time fire chief with long tenures at the Orofino Fire Department.