Vietnam War vet honored as Veteran of Year
A Vietnam War veteran has been named Butler County's Veteran of the Year.
Robert Ripper of Fairview Township will be honored at the Veteran of the Year luncheon on Nov. 14 at American Legion Post 778 in Lyndora. He also likely will walk at the annual Veterans Day parade at 10:40 a.m. Nov. 11 on Main Street in Butler
He said he is happy to be honored.
“It was a surprise, totally,” Ripper, 69, said, saying that there are many other people who deserve the honor as well.
Ripper was on active duty in the Army from November 1965 to September 1967, and was honorably discharged. He further served as a stand-by reserve member until November 1971.
He was in Vietnam from July 1966 to September 1967. There he served as a communications operator and mail clerk. He operated a radio when in convoys to transport personnel and fuel. Ripper received a 5,000-mile safe driving award.
Outside of the service, he has been affiliated with the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church for his entire life, serving as a substitute usher.
Ripper has been active in the Chicora Volunteer Fire Company for more than 48 years, and is a past president and secretary.
He also served on the Chicora library council, helping to raise funds to get a library branch established at the Chicora Medical Center.
Ripper is a member of the American Legion Post 642, serving as commander in 2010 and 2011. He currently is the chaplain and service officer.
At the post, he is in charge of and maintains medical equipment that is loaned out to veterans who cannot afford to buy or rent such equipment. He also conducts military funeral rites and gets flags for veterans' graves on Memorial Day.He is a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Disabled American Veterans.Ripper does Veterans Day presentations and programs at schools, medical centers and retirement homes.He takes veterans to register for and participate at VA Butler Healthcare, and he has helped veterans and veterans' widows get military benefits.Ripper said he always liked getting involved and helping people out.“If I can help anybody, I've always tried my best to help them out,” Ripper said.He graduated from Karns City High School in 1964.He retired after 27 years of working at Penreco.Ripper and his wife, Daria, have two adult sons, Jack and Brett.
