Lupyak, Joseph W., CSM

COMMAND SERGEANT MAJOR (RETIRED) JOSEPH W. LUPYAK 

Mr. Lupyak was born in Forest City, Pennsylvania.

Command Sergeant Major (Retired) Joseph Lupyak enlisted in the Army in February 1951, and after a distinguished career spanning over 30 years of active service, he retired in September 1980.

Mr. Lupyak's military career has included a wide variety of worldwide assignments from Fort Bragg to Germany, Panama, Korea, and Vietnam. He was assigned to the 11th Airborne Division in February 1951 and completed jump school in May 1951.In October 1951 he was assigned to the 15th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division, in Korea. He served for 13 months in Korea and participated in numerous operations during the Korean War.

In 1957 Mr. Lupyak was an instructor in the USARCARIBE School in Panama, and in 1959, he attended the Missile Electronic School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, before being assigned to a British Missile Warhead Detachment in Dortmund, Germany in 1960.

Other assignments include the Sergeant Major for the Advisory Group, Ohio National Guard; Command Sergeant Major of the 27th Airborne Engineer Battalion; Command Sergeant Major, Hawk Missile Battalion, Korea; and Command Sergeant Major, 3d Battalion, 325th Infantry Brigade, 82d Airborne Division.

Mr. Lupyak's Special Forces experiences began early in the history of Special Forces. He joined the 77th Special Forces Group (Airborne) in February 1954. He served in Detachment A Berlin in the early 60's; served in both 7th and 3d Special Forces Groups; participated in the Son Tay Raid in 1970; and served with 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) in the Republic of Vietnam. He was selected as the Command Sergeant Major for 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) in 1976 and served in that position until his retirement in September 1980.

After retiring, Mr. Lupyak worked overseas for 2 years, and in 1983, became one of the first civilian instructors hired for the newly acquired positions in the Special Forces School. He moved to the position of Assistant Operations Officer/Training Officer for 1st Battalion, 1st Special Warfare Training Group (Airborne) in 1984. Mr. Lupyak currently holds the position of Branch Chief of the Special Forces Qualification Course for the Training Development Division in the United States Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School.

Mr. Lupyak has an Associate Degree in Business and is a member of the Honor Society. He is a past President of Special Forces Chapter 62, Special Forces Museum Association, and Son Tay Raid Association. He is Distinguished NDIA Lifetime Member for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict, He is a Distinguished Member of the 1st Special Forces Regiment and a Member of the Special Forces Hall of Fame. He has also been awarded the Gold Order of St Philip Neri Award by the Special Forces Association. He was the distinguished citizen of the year in his hometown in Forest City, PA. His awards include the Silver Star, Bronze Star with Valor device with cluster, Legion of Merit, Air Medal w/cluster, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry w/Palm, Combat Infantryman Badge with Star, and Master Parachutist Badge.

Mr. Lupyak is married to the former Goldy Hatgi of Panama. They have one son, Richard.