MORGANTOWN, W.Va. –– The St. Francis Alumni Association has honored Paul Massullo, class of 1978, with the Lance Corporal Russell Cyzick Veteran award.

Paul Massullo

The award was created in 2021 to honor Rusty Cyzick, class of 1981, who killed in the Oct. 1983 terrorist bombing of the United States Marine barracks in Beirut. The bombing killed 220 Marines, 18 United States Navy Sailors, and 3 soldiers from the United States Army.

Massullo retired from the United States Army after 27 years of service and said he knew Cyzick as an awkward freshman when he was a senior and preparing to graduate. Years later, Massullo was on leave at the recruiting station in Morgantown when he ran into a kid joining the Marines that looked very familiar. After a short exchange of small talk Massullo remembered it was Rusty Cyzick.

“I want to tell you, he was a very motivated kid,” Massullo said. “We only talked for about 10 minutes and my mindset at the time was anybody who wants to serve the country- that’s a great thing.”

The award was established in 2021, with Lance Corporal Russell Cyzick posthumously receiving the inaugural honor. In 2022, Corporal Jeffery Dennis Straface, who was killed in the Vietnam War, was named the second recipient. After a two-year hiatus, Paul Massullo becomes the third honoree.

“This is in remembrance of Rusty Cyzick, they’re honoring me with this,” Massullo said. “I find it a great honor to receive this award and entwine my name with Rusty Cyzick.”

After graduation Massullo enrolled at Fairmont State University. He attended classes and played football there for a year and left because he felt a higher calling. Massullo’s father who is also a graduate of St. Francis Central Catholic School and a retired U.S. Air Force veteran instilled the importance of service in him. From the age of six, Massullo said he wanted to wear the uniform of one of the armed services.

“My first assignment, and many assignments was with the 82nd Airborne Division,” Massullo said. ” That was one of the things I did want to do- I thought it was the coolest thing in the world to jump out of an airplane.”

During his 27-year military career, Paul Massullo spent 12 years serving with the elite 82nd Airborne Division, a rapid-deployment force tasked with responding to global hotspots within 18 hours. His specialty was towed field artillery, specifically operating the 105mm towed howitzer.

“Each artillery battery will be supporting an infantry battalion,” Massullo said. “So, when they jump in and where they jump in, we jump in with them and they drop our Howitzers from the aircraft and we hit the ground ready to fight 360 degrees.”

During his service, Massullo noted that he was always on the opposite side of the world when combat operations occurred in Grenada, Panama, and the Middle East. Over the course of his career, he rose to the highest possible rank in the enlisted category

“When I pinned on Command Sargent Major, no when I pinned on Sargent Major I knew my dad was happy,” Massullo said. ” Because I had reached the pinnacle of what I could do when I was in the military short of becoming the Sargent Major of the United States Army which was outside of my desired reach.”

Massullo said the highest honor anyone can have is to wear the uniform in service of our country and he encourages young people to take that challenge.

Also honored at the event will be Togg Gregg with the Roger Fantacci Trojan Spirit Award; the 1985 football team will be recognized with the Trojan Team Award; Pam Cyphert Queen, Tim Saab, and Major General (Ret) Richard “Tom” Thomas will be inducted into the Achievement Hall of Fame; Cliff Mtchel and Ed Boyle will be inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame.