Did You Hear About The Marine Vietnam Vet Who Fought Off A Bear With His Bare Hands?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 20:42:26 -0400

Larry Yepez; Marine Vietnam vet fights off bear with his bare hands.

Jonn Lilyea | August 17, 2015
Larry Yepez
CNN reports that Vietnam Veteran, Larry Yepez, was attacked by a bear, despite the fact that he told the bear to leave.

Larry Yepez, 66, is now speaking out about the terrifying ordeal fighting off a bear outside his Mariposa County home.

“I could feel his strength. I felt like a little rag doll underneath him,” Yepez said. “I could hear the crunching like ‘crr’–like that when he bit down on it. See, and that’s why I was trying to hit him again to try and get him off me.”

Yepez was in shock when he came face-to-face with the 250-pound bear. But when he realized it was fight or die, adrenaline kicked in.

Yeah, 250-pounds sounds a little light for a bear this time of year, but I’m sure Larry didn’t take the time to weigh him properly.

Larry says that he kicked the bear off of him and his dog distracted the animal long enough for both of them to escape to the safety of his house. Then Larry drove himself to the hospital drenched in his own blood.

http://www.yourcentralvalley.com/news/man-who-survived-bear-attack-speaks-out

Man Who Survived Bear Attack Speaks Out

A man comes face-to-face with a bear and survives. Now at home recovering from his injuries, 66-year-old Larry Yepez speaks out about the terrifying ordeal fighting off a bear outside his Mariposa County home.

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 17 at 2015 8:43 PM

CW4 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 20:43:49 -0400

SGT Private RallyPoint Member, they were talking about this on the local Detroit radio station, if this truly happened, then the story is amazing.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 17 at 2015 8:47 PM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 20:47:27 -0400

Bear didn't have a chance.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 17 at 2015 8:48 PM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 20:48:57 -0400

Bear didn't have a chance.

Response by Sgt David G Duchesneau made Aug 17 at 2015 8:50 PM

Sgt David G Duchesneau — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 20:50:26 -0400

All I can say is this Marine did what he was trained to do, stay alive! He truly is a survivor. SEMPER FI my brother!

Response by SGT Forrest Stewart made Aug 17 at 2015 8:55 PM

SGT Forrest Stewart — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 20:55:48 -0400

Musta been one dusey of a fight! Darn bear's probably lucky to be alive!

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 17 at 2015 9:14 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 21:14:31 -0400

The Few, the Proud, THE MARINES. SGT Private RallyPoint Member Sgt David G Duchesneau

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 17 at 2015 11:05 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 23:05:33 -0400

Well his name is Larry, so he has that going for him. A name that strikes fear in Dragons and Unicorns alike. :) Botswana forever!!!! lol

Response by SFC Rollie Hubbard made Aug 17 at 2015 11:16 PM

SFC Rollie Hubbard — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 23:16:30 -0400

This guy is very lucky to be alive, hell I see a bear outside my home I am not going to go tell it anything.

Response by 1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 18 at 2015 9:49 AM

1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 18 Aug 2015 09:49:45 -0400

Semper Fidelis. Awesome story.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 18 at 2015 9:50 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 18 Aug 2015 09:50:58 -0400

Certainly, when faced in a situation like that, the only choices to make is to either stand and fight or lay down and take it. If this Marine was going to go down, at least he chose to go down fighting. But, isnt that what all Marines choose?

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Aug 18 at 2015 9:55 AM

SSgt Alex Robinson — Tue, 18 Aug 2015 09:55:34 -0400

Gotta love USMC training! Thisbisba guy I want in a fox hole with me

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Aug 18 at 2015 9:56 AM

SSgt Alex Robinson — Tue, 18 Aug 2015 09:56:17 -0400

A stunning lack of dignity and class

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Aug 18 at 2015 10:09 AM

Capt Richard I P. — Tue, 18 Aug 2015 10:09:37 -0400

F'ing badass. Give that man a tattoo of a bear-rampant. And give that puppy all the treats he wants!

Response by PO3 Steven Sherrill made Aug 18 at 2015 10:34 AM

PO3 Steven Sherrill — Tue, 18 Aug 2015 10:34:48 -0400

That is an EPIC story!
What did you do today?
I drove to work and sat in a cubicle all day, how about you?
I fought a fucking bear to get to the bathroom!
Wow, just wow. It is great that he survived. I would just make the suggestion that going forward he take the samurai sword with him when going to the head.

Response by SA Harold Hansmann made Aug 18 at 2015 12:48 PM

SA Harold Hansmann — Tue, 18 Aug 2015 12:48:42 -0400

Aho brother.
This Marine did the right thing.
It was a case of fight or run and you NEVER run from a predator. That makes you prey.
I grew up in bear country. Upper Peninsula of Michigan. We had black bears and no Grizzlies.
Just have to bluff the bear into thinking you are a bigger, badder ass than he is.

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Aug 18 at 2015 1:00 PM

MCPO Roger Collins — Tue, 18 Aug 2015 13:00:53 -0400

What no credit to the "pit bull"?

Response by PO1 John Miller made Aug 20 at 2015 7:32 AM

PO1 John Miller — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 07:32:13 -0400

I'm sure the only reason Mr. Yepez didn't kill the bear with his bare hands (pun intended, LOL) or his K Bar is because of his Native American spiritual beliefs. Otherwise he would have a new bearskin rug in his house!