PAUL J. CAPPELLINO, LTJG, USN

Paul Cappellino '77

Date of birth: November 17, 1954

Date of death: July 16, 1980

Age: 25

Lucky Bag

From the 1977 Lucky Bag:

PAUL JOHN CAPPELLINO

Gouverneur, New York

"CAPPY"

Cappy, coming from the snowy hills of Northern New York, made it to USNA a little late. A quick year at NAPS was needed to sharpen academic skills (?) and then it was on to the Big Blue. PJ had a few problems the first year, obtaining a Black N in the process, but the Cape St. Claire 5 were legendary and so were the mornings on the Red Beach. In his second and third years he mastered the rack, and the Beltsville mile. Marriage is somewhere in the future, but for now Cap hopes to fly and just leave Mother B behind.

PAUL JOHN CAPPELLINO

Gouverneur, New York

"CAPPY"

Cappy, coming from the snowy hills of Northern New York, made it to USNA a little late. A quick year at NAPS was needed to sharpen academic skills (?) and then it was on to the Big Blue. PJ had a few problems the first year, obtaining a Black N in the process, but the Cape St. Claire 5 were legendary and so were the mornings on the Red Beach. In his second and third years he mastered the rack, and the Beltsville mile. Marriage is somewhere in the future, but for now Cap hopes to fly and just leave Mother B behind.

Loss

Paul was lost on July 16, 1980 when the CH-46 helicopter he was co-piloting crashed while performing a routine supply replenishment operation between the frigate USS Davidson and the supply ship USS Wichita (AOR 1). Two others were also lost; the pilot was injured but survived. All were members of the helicopter detachment aboard Wichita.

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz:

Paul graduated in 1972 from Gouverneur High School, Gouverneur, N.Y. Class Vice-President 4; AFS (American Field Service) 3, 4; Committee Chairman 4; Football 2, 4; Basketball 2, 4; Baseball 1; Track 3, 4; A Cappella Choir 3, 4; NYSSMA 3, 4; All-State 4; Dean Oratoricals 3; Junior Prom Committee 3; Foreign Exchange Student to Costa Rica 3. “Paul Cappellino lived in Cartago, Costa Rica last summer with Mr. & Mrs. Ernesto Gutierrez Rivera and their son, Luis. He attended San Luis Gouzaga High School. Of the school Paul said, “To me it seemed very disorganized and confusing, but that was mainly because of the Spanish.” While in Costa Rica Paul enjoyed dances, parties, cross-country trips by train and bus, picnics, A.F.S. gatherings and the “Cantinas”!
“Cost Rica is a country of volcanoes and beaches, flowers, and plants of all different sizes, shapes and colors. It’s truly a beautiful country. But to know a country isn’t just to visit it as a tourist. In order to understand and to know the customs, traditions and ideals of a people, it becomes necessary to participate in the life of that people in the most complete way possible.
I’d like to express my appreciation to all the people who made my A.F.S. trip possible.”
Paul was a groomsman at Lt. j.g. Ray C. Simmons’ wedding in June 1979 in Pensacola. Lt. j.g. Steve Harper was best man; other groomsmen were Lts. j.g. Willie D’Amica and William Dennis; ushers were Lts. j.g. Thomas McKee and Peter McNally.

A memorial service was held at the North Island Naval Air Station chapel in Chula Vista, CA. Paul has a memory marker in New York.