David Pieper a native Grand Islander, Dave graduated from Northwest High School in 1968. After working awhile, he said he got the best advice to join the military from a WWII Army Veteran, his father, Ed.
So, in 1969, he joined the Navy to see the world, took basic training at Great Lakes, Chicago, and was assigned to the Catapults and Arresting Gear on the U.S.S Coral Sea (CVA-43).
He completed 2 tours of duty off the coast of Vietnam, with ports in Osaka, Japan; Sidney, Australia; Honolulu, Hawaii; and San Francisco. His final station was in the middle of the desert in Fallon, Nevada. A naval air station, training pilots in carrier take offs and landings. He started as an airman apprentice and in 1973 and at the age of 23, he finished as an E5 2nd class petty officer with 22 men assigned to him.
After his time In the Navy, he returned to Grand Island to raise his family. David was married to Kathy Pieper in 1972. Together they have two sons: Robert (Wendy) Pieper and Richard (Megan) Pieper. They also have 4 grandchildren: Kadence, Kash, Emmett, and Braysen. After returning from the Navy, David was working for the Grand Island Regional Airport and then joining the Federal Aviation Administration in a civil service career starting in Mason City, Iowa. Later he was transferred back to his home town of Grand Island, and after 34 years including military service, retired in 2005.
He gained knowledge and experience in his field, while working with an outstanding group of men and he considers his naval career a definite high point in his life. His son recommended him for a Quilt of Valor which he received in Crete, Nebraska. Every aspect of his life has been honor, duty and patriotism from playing in the Navy band in basic training (which also got him out of KP), jumping in the Pacific Ocean as a pollywog, then swimming across the equator as a shellback; being friends to this day with his shipmates, and finally even in Grand Island he was once again on guard during the 911 attack. He has met every challenge with pride and resourcefulness, from coaching his kids’ sports, to building and repairing government facilities, to keeping the flying public safe.
He was on one of the Hero Flights to Washington D.C. and is a proud member of the Nebraska Honor Guard VFW Post #1347 in Grand Island, duty bound to escort his fallen comrades to their final resting place with dignity and honor. Fair winds and following seas…...
