Staff photos / Emily Scott Bobby Orr, senior vice commander of the Hubbard VFW, recounts fond memories of his friend, Richard Choppa, who died during the Vietnam War. Jackson Street in Hubbard was dedicated Saturday as Corporal Richard Choppa Memorial Way in his honor. In the background are, from left, Hubbard VFW Post 3767 Cmdr. Joe Warminski and the Rev. Michael Swierz, pastor of St. Patrick Church.

HUBBARD — A crowd of about 150 people gathered Saturday afternoon to dedicate Jackson Street as Corporal Richard Choppa Memorial Way in honor of Hubbard’s only resident to die in the Vietnam War.

Choppa joined the Army in 1967 and was killed in action on Dec. 15 that year. At the time of his death, Pfc. Choppa was serving as a medical aidman with Company C, 1st Battalion (Airborne), 12th Calvary Regiment, 1st Calvary Division (Airmobile). He was posthumously promoted to corporal by President Lyndon Johnson.

“Fifty-five years ago, a young man left this house to go serve his country and he never returned,” Hubbard Mayor Ben Kyle said in front of 350 Jackson St. “We are here today to honor his legacy, his memory and to continue to remember his sacrifice for our country. He was a true American hero, a hometown hero, and we are honored today to finally pay tribute today to his ultimate sacrifice.”

This is Hubbard’s first and only co-named street. The project was encouraged by Bobby Orr, senior vice commander of the Hubbard VFW, a friend of Choppa’s.

When his unit came under intense hostile fire near Troung Lam, Republic of Vietnam, and many sustained casualties, Choppa exposed himself to enemy fire to render first aid. He carried his fellow soldiers out of harm’s way and still returned to the battlefield to continue giving aid to others, where he was mortally wounded, according to his Silver Star citation. He also received a Purple Heart.

“We must remember that our flag does not fly because the wind moves it,” Hubbard VFW Post 3767 Commander Joe Warminski said. “It flies by the last breath of each soldier who died protecting it. We carry with us a never-ending respect for those who have given so much for others, like the man we are here to honor today, Cpl. Richard Choppa, our fellow brother in arms and our fellow brother of Hubbard. May he rest in eternal peace.”

Choppa was returned home in December 1967 for a funeral Mass at St. Patrick Church and was laid to rest in Hubbard Union Cemetery. At Saturday’s dedication, the Rev. Mike Swierz, pastor of St. Patrick Church, led the crowd in a prayer for Choppa’s memory.

“As we come together today as family and as friends and as a community, we remember that many men and women have answered the call in our land to fight for our freedom. The freedom to serve you; the freedom of so many different things that we celebrate today. We ask that You be with his family and comfort them in their loss. Be with this community and set him as an example in all that we do and all that we are so that in all things we serve You. But also that we never take for granted all the freedoms that we experience everyday, all those men and women who fight for our country, our veterans, those who were lost in battle, those who never came home, those that have gone before us. As we remember Richard, we pray that you bring him into the joys of the Kingdom of Heaven. We pray for all in military service for our country, for their safety and well-being, and for that of their families. We pray that his memory be eternal.”

MEMORY STILL ALIVE

Choppa may have died 55 years ago, but his memory remains alive on his childhood street. One neighbor still remembers the Army vehicle pulling up to the Choppa house in December 1967. Choppa’s cousin, Bob Papa, has a letter that Choppa wrote to Rita Campana, who lived across the street, wishing her a happy holiday. He wrote the letter two weeks before his death.

Orr spoke to the crowd about his friend who he described as a “perfect role model for any young adult.” He said he had it all: good looks and a good personality; he was smart and had a great heart. Orr still goes to his friend’s grave to pay his respects, but wishes his friend was still with him today.

“Fifty-five years ago, our government sent Choppa to a country 6,000 miles from home, called South Vietnam, a place we should have never been involved. Over 58,000 of our military personnel lost their lives for nothing but politics and money,” Orr said.

For his bravery in combat, Choppa was awarded the Air Medal for meritorious achievement in aerial operations and the Army Commendation Medal for meritorious service in the ground war. After his death, Choppa was named a corporal and awarded the Order of the Purple Heart and the Silver Star for his acts of bravery.

Swierz brought the dedication to a close with a final prayer: “We dedicate more than a street or a neighborhood. This street winds through our whole town. This street winds through our whole country, from sea to sea. Men and women are called to be faithful to what You ask of us. Richard answered that call in serving our country. He sacrificed his own life and he is a hero. But more than that, he is a Hubbard Eagle who soars above us each and every day giving us the courage and the strength we need to live out our commitment to our country, our families and each to their own faith. We pray that Richard’s spirit will inspire many more to be true to their name, to fight for the freedoms we enjoy. to follow the values and morals that You give to us, to be true to ourselves. During this Independence Day weekend, help us to never forget those, like Richard, who gave their lives in service to our country. It’s to them that we owe this day and our freedom to serve You and one another.”