John Alapai

by

Retired Colonel Michael Alexander

US Army Armor

John Alapai was a wonderful soldier. As a young Captain commanding a large company in a war, the best top soldier I could have possibly had was John Alapai.

I remember once during a scud attack, everybody was running around a little scared, not John, he was walking around giving instructions, just as cool as he could be.

I knew that I had someone special.

What was really impressive was to hear how John won his Silver Star. During Vietnam, John’s platoon was in an ambush, this man had been shot, with a machine gun, had a broken hip and he still gathered himself up, crawled behind the enemy, and destroyed them all.  John was the real deal.

God I will miss that man.

I am glad he is not suffering anymore and I know he is resting easy as he always did in heaven now.

God bless you John Alapai.

 

Mike Alexander

Colonel Armor, Retired

John Alapai

First Sergeant US Army Retired

3^rd Battalion, 37^th Armored, 1^st Infantry Division

Fort Riley, Kansas 66442

”There are soldiers you come across during thirty years in the Army who remain a vivid image in your memory. John Alapai is one of those soldiers.

I met John shortly after taking command of the 3-37th Armor Battalion at Fort Riley the summer of 1990. He was the First Sergeant of Headquarters Company. You immediately knew you could count on John….you sensed his quiet professionalism while at the same time knowing he would be a “lion” in a fight.

In short stead, John DEMONSTRATED HE was a tough, disciplined soldier and leader. He expected the same FROM HIS soldiers and they eagerly followed his lead. At the same he was caring man. He loved soldiers and their families.

When the BATTALION WAS alerted in November for deployment to Desert Storm, we all knew that John had been there, done that in Vietnam. All us green horn tankers who had never been shot at looked to John FOR “Combat Wisdom” to make up for our lack of experience. I sought out and heeded his council on the tough personnel and operational decisions. Without fail, he prepared his soldiers and his families for war.

I personally took great comfort in knowing John was with us as we launched the attack into Iraq. To recount the many MEMORIES of John during the fight from Saudi Arabia through Iraq, into Kuwait and back into Iraq would take hours and many beers!  Needless to say we would not have made it without him. He was always there when you needed him. The solders, including myself, felt his courage.

He inspired US.

John kept a copy of the battalion colors above the fire place in the Hide Away. We often looked at the colors and recalled the our time in the battalion. JOHN ESPECIALLY cherished the fact that we had fought, accomplished the mission but most importantly brought everyone home.

If called again to a fight, the first man I would ask for is John Alapai.

John, keep your comms up, the Dauntless soldiers will link up with you on the objective in the years to come.

Godspeed.

No Slack! Dave Gross, BG US Army (RET)