A.J. Gapol (center) at his induction into the USAMU Hall of Fame, 15 October 2016.
Army Staff Sergeant (Retired) Arpail J. Gapol (January 19, 1933 - June 18, 2023) recently passed away in Tacoma, WA. He was a member of the United States Army Marksmanship Unit Hall of Fame, the USAMU Service Rifle Hall of Fame, and he was a Life Member of the Military Marksmanship Association.
Gapol started competing with the service rifle in 1960 and earned the Distinguished Rifleman Badge that same year.
He won the Third Army Rifle Championships in 1962 and the All-Army Rifle Championships in 1972 and 1973. In 1967 he won the President's Rifle Match, the Pershing Trophy as the high shooter in the National Trophy Rifle Team match, and was high Regular Service in the National Championships. Gapol displayed his long range skills in 1971 by winning the 600 yard Division "B" and the 1,000 yard Division "B" titles. In 1972 he was the Georgia State High Power Rifle Champion, the Dixie State High Power Rifle Champion, and the Southeast HPR Regional Champion. In 1973 he was the National Service Rifle Champion and won the President's Rifle Match again. In 1974 he won the President's Rifle Match a third time.
Gapol volunteered for three combat tours in Vietnam in 1966, 1968, and 1972. During the last two he as a sniper and sniper instructor with the 9th, 25th, 1st Cavalry, and 101st Airborne Divisions.
He was buried at the Tahoma National Cemetery, Kent, WA on July 14, 2023.
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