Paul Van Riper
Vietnam | Advisor, 3rd Marine Battalion, Republic of Vietnam Marine Division
His father opened the newspaper and said to the boys, "Well, the war will be over pretty quick. They're sending the Marines." The Korean War did not end quickly, but for Paul Van Riper, that started a burning desire to become a Marine. His parents insisted on college, so he set his sights on being a Marine officer. (6:46)