Growing up in the Valley Inn section of Carroll, David Papak was thinking more about ballfields than battlefields.
“My whole world revolved around sports,” said Papak, a retired Marine brigadier general.
The 1971 Mon Valley Catholic graduate was recruited by Munhall native Joe Bugel, then a coach at the Naval Academy, to play defensive tackle for the Midshipmen.
“Coach Bugel talked to me about the positive aspects of attending the Naval Academy – the commission, which was a full scholarship, a job guaranteed when I came out and a great education,” Papak said. “And I liked the idea of playing Pitt, Penn State, all of those schools.”
After graduating from the academy, Papak joined the Marine Corps.
“The true definition of a student-athlete is one attending one of the military academies because you still have the academic requirements and standards along with playing Division I football,” Papak said.
Papak said that after entering the academy, he decided he wanted to fly helicopters for the Marines.
“That's when I said this might be for me,” Papak said.
Papak will be the principle speaker at 239th Marine Corps Birthday celebration held by the Mon Valley Leathernecks Association 6 p.m. Nov. 1 in the Donora Municipal Building.
During his 33-year career, Papak has received numerous aviation command and staff assignments. Designated a naval aviator, he began flying CH-53 heavy-lift helicopters in 1979.
The son of Laddie Papak of Monongahela and the late Helen Papak, he received a master of science degree from the University of Southern California in 1986.
Papak served on both United States coasts and in Japan. He was deployed with ground troops during Operation Desert Shield in 1990 and as a general officer assigning Marines to Iraq following 9/11.
Papak retired in early 2009. He now works in the corporate world as a senior level sales and business development executive.
He and his wife, Kate, have three children and five grandchildren. They live in Annapolis, Md., home of the naval academy.
“It's a military career that spanned a lifetime,” Papak said. “It's been an honor to serve our nation and to wear the cloth (uniform) of our nation.
“To serve, to defend our nation – it's been a privilege to do that. It was the greatest career I could ask for.”
Papak said he is inspired by the young men and women who serve today. Less than 1 percent of the nation's population serves in the military.
Papak said he enjoys coming back to the Valley to visit with the Mon Valley Leathernecks – another source of inspiration.
“My message is, the quality of our military has never been better,” Papak said of his planned talk at the celebration. “These are motivated, very well-trained individuals, and their families are behind them, supporting them.”
World War II veterans have been called “The Greatest Generation.”
“The young men and woman in our military are the next-best generation,” Papak said.
“I think this generation that stepped up since 9/11 is absolutely the next great generation, and they continue to volunteer, full-well knowing they may go into harm's way to maintain what my parents' generation started.”
