​Welcome to the 
​​Flag Steward
Interactive American Flag
for CU Football
(inside CU Champions Center)
paying tribute to CU-Army ROTC alum, GWOT Fallen Captain Rippetoe

**************
2018 Featured Commemoration of GWOT Fallen CU ROTC Alum
​U.S. Army Captain
Russell Rippetoe of Arvada, CO
[ Commissioned Officer from CU Army ROTC "Golden Buffalo Battalion" in 1999 ]

[ US Army Captain (pictured as 1st Lieutenant) Rippetoe - an Airborne Ranger who lived up to the Ranger motto, "Lead the Way" ]

​​Captain Rippetoe, nicknamed "Rip," served in Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) 
Assigned to A Company, 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, based out of Fort Benning, GA
Killed, on April 3, 2003, along with 2 other soldiers, by suicide bomber's massive car bomb while providing security at Hadithah Dam northwest of Baghdad, Iraq.
As his dad reinforced, Rippetoe's big, kind heart cost him his life as he ran to help a pregnant woman screaming while exiting a vehicle that turned out to be a suicide bomb 

Born into an Army family, July 21, 1975 in Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany
​1994 Graduate from Broomfield HS where was Captain of soccer team, Homecoming King, and Eagle Scout
1999 Criminal Justice Graduate from Metro State University
Commissioned Army 2nd Lieutenant at CU-Boulder in 1999
Attended Field Artillery Officer training and earned Ranger tab
First deployment to Afghanistan in 2002 as Fire Support Officer calling in artillery and aerial bombardment
Quickly turned around and shipped off to be part of start of Operation Iraq Freedom in Feb. 2003
Military decorations include 2 Bronze Stars with Valor Device and Purple Heart
Survived by mother, sister, and dad - a retired Army Ranger Colonel who fought in Vietnam

We honor and thank U.S. Army Captain Russell Rippetoe for defending our freedoms and fighting to liberate the lives of others.
[Note: Rippetoe is first CU-ROTC alum to be killed while conducting GWOT combat operations.  He was the third military service member, and first officer, from Colorado to die in the Global War on Terror. Also, first soldier killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery.]

​Inspirational Quote about Rippetoe:
... from Mary Lynn Macsalka to his family - courtesy of FallenHeroesMemorial.com ...
"I knew your son when I was a first year cadet in the Army ROTC program at the University of Colorado-Boulder. Your son was an inspiration to me and I looked up to him because of his awesome attitude, love of the military, and desire to excel, to go above and beyond. It was an honor to have spent time learning with him and from him. I will forever appreciate his service and sacrifice - knowing he rests now in the arms of the Lord is sweet among the sorrow. Thank you for raising such a wonderful person!"

​​CLICK HERE to review Captain Rippetoe's tribute at the Military Time's Honor the Fallen site

GO HERE to see Rippetoe's TogetherWeServed.com page

CLICK HERE to examine the ArlingtonCemetery.net tribute site for Captain "Rip"

GO HERE to read the Fallen Heroes Memorial page filled with personal messages to Russell​

[ virtual ribbon bar courtesy of TogetherWeServed.com ]

Army Captain Rippetoe honored by CU Football team

The flag we carry out behind Ralphie this week will be a little more special.

Catch ESPN tomorrow for the full story!#GoBuffs || #VeteransDay2018 pic.twitter.com/LsR9YfHorO

— Colorado Buffaloes Football (@RunRalphieRun) November 10, 2018

​Flag Steward presented this Interactive American Flag honoring Army Captain Rippetoe (the first of four CU ROTC alums killed during the Global War on Terror) to the CU Football team prior to the 'Military Appreciation' game against Washington State University.  Telling Captain Rippetoe's life story and reminding them of the sacrifice made by Captain Rippetoe and others in the name of 'freedom' seemed to make a lasting impression on the CU Football team..

Reflections about this
​iHonor Flag's Honoree - Captain Rippetoe

... reflections will be posted here (from newest to oldest submitted) ...

---

---

Captain Rippetoe, I was honored to relay your story of youthful perseverance and military heroism to the CU Football team before their game vs Washington St in November 2018.  Your life story motivated me to get out of my comfort zone, call the CU Football team, and reinforce with them that their are many other 'warriors' who are trained at Folsom Stadium beside football players.  The ROTC units in Folsom Stadium train 'warriors' for real battles that secure freedoms (and empower kids, like them, to play football).  I'm sure your life and deeds will be an inspiration for some of the players and fans who discover the US Flag honoring you.
- from Sean on 4/23/19

---

​​Submit your note of support, inspirational memory, funny anecdote, etc. about this iHonor Flag's Honoree
​Fill-in form below with memories and media (optional pics, video, audio) to share with visitors to this honoree's tribute page

*************
GWOT (Global War on Terror) Fallen:  CU ROTC Alumni to Honor
This Interactive American Flag is dedicated to these inspirational, patriotic Golden Buffaloes:

[ Russell Rippetoe, John Maloney, James Cathey, William DuBois (from left to right) ]

U.S. Army Captain Russell Rippetoe (1999 alum)
KIA April 3, 2003

U.S. Marine Corps Captain John Maloney (1996 alum)
KIA June 16, 2005
[ Maloney's Interactive American Flag is featured at CU-NROTC unit​ (click link) ]

U.S. Marine Corps Second Lieutenant James Cathey (2004 alum)
KIA August 21, 2005
[ Cathey's Interactive American Flag is featured at the "Buffulance" tailgate (click link) ]

U.S. Air Force Captain William DuBois (2008 alum)
KIA December 1, 2014 
[  Pyro Dubois 'iHonor Flag' will be featured at the CU vs AFA game this fall ]

Shoulder to shoulder
We will fight, fight
Fight, fight, fight!

GO HERE for today's REMINDERS FROM OUR FLAG
(including daily Flag Status, Fallen Patriot alerts, Historical Reminders, & more)

​[  NOTE:  This Interactive American Flag and its connected Flag Steward service is not endorsed by the CU Athletic Department or ROTC units.  This program is simply a goodwill gesture from a nonprofit, led by a CU Marine NROTC alum, who wants to ensure the efforts and sacrifices of fellow Buffs who served in the US military, especially those who were killed in the line of duty, are known beyond the passageways of the CU ROTC units in Folsom Stadium.  ]

Thanks for visiting this Flag Steward  Interactive American Flag and reviewing the stories of its inspirational Patriots.  We appreciate your support of our nonprofit program and mission to build better ( more informed, inspired, patriotic) student-citizens.

[ Copyright (c) 2018 - Flag Steward, a GivingVue nonprofit program. 
​GivingVue is a 501(c)(3) tax-deductible, non-partisan, student-inspired, Veteran-led nonprofit based in Colorado. EIN: 46-2457373 ]