Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Repya Jr

LTC (RET) JOSEPH REPYA, Jr. was born and raised in Gary, Indiana. He attended Western Michigan University from 1965 until graduating with a BA degree in 1969. He was an ROTC Scholarship recipient and finished first in his class at ROTC Advanced Camp, Fort Riley, KS in 1967. As a result, he received the WMU President's Award and Sabre and served as the Cadet Brigade Commander from 1968-1969. He received his commission as a Second Lieutenant, Regular Army, in the Infantry and reported to Fort Benning, GA for the Infantry Officer's Basic Course.

His first duty assignment upon completing IOBC and Airborne School was with the 82"d Airborne Division. There, he became Jumpmaster qualified and served as an infantry and weapons platoon leader. After six months, he volunteered for combat duty and attended the Jungle Warfare School in Panama en route to the Republic of Viet Nam. In Viet Nam, he served as a rifle platoon leader in the 2"~ Battalion, 506t~ Infantry, 101st Airborne (Air Assault) Division for six months. He subsequently served as an aero rifle platoon leader in the 2"d Squadron, 17"~ Cavalry Regiment. ILT Repya returned to the USA in 1971, serving at Fort Carson, CO before attending Rotary Helicopter Flight School in 1973. Upon completion of flight training in 1974, Captain Repya was assigned once again to the 101$1 Airborne (Air Assault) Division. There he served in numerous Army aviation positions until he commanded Company B, Ist Battalion, 503'.o Infantry from 1975-1977. Captain Repya completed the Infantry Officer's Advanced Course in 1978 and left active duty a year later in 1979. He served in numerous aviation and infantry assignments in the Army National Guard and the Army Reserves from 1979 until his return to active duty in December 1990. Again, he volunteered for combat duty in Desert Shield/Desert Storm. LTC Repya became the S-2 of the 4th Brigade (Aviation) of the 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley, KS. LTC Repya spent five months in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and lraq flying helicopters before returning home in June 1991. LTC Repya was credited with one of Desert Storm's largest intelligence finds at the Iraqi airfield of Tallil, Iraq. After 1991, LTC Repya completed Command and General Staff College and additional USAR assignments with the 1~t Infantry Division. LTC Repya's final duty assignment was with the Brigade S-3, 7t~ Brigade, (ROTC Training), 84t~ Division. There he trained Senior ROTC Cadets at Fort Lewis, WA in 1997. On January 19~, 1998, LTC Repya retired from active reserve status with over 28 years of service.

LTC Repya has been awarded the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal with V for Valor (2 Oak Leaf Clusters), the Air Medal (Numeral 2), the Army Commendation Medal (40LC), the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry (individual award), the Combat Infantryman's Badge, and numerous other awards and service ribbons. LTC Repya is married to Debra Repya; he has two daughters, Robyn and Molly. LTC Repya and his family reside in Eagan, Minnesota where he works in sales in the packaging industry.