When Paul Kopacz was four years old a relative who was a Marine died, but his family couldn't afford to travel to the funeral. "When I grow up," he said, "I'm going to become a pilot so you can all fly free."

But Kopacz didn't know he had a hidden enemy: the learning disabilities dyslexia, dysgraphia and attention deficit disorder. Dyslexia had haunted his father, who dropped out of high school and became an excellent mechanic, but lost out on his chances for better jobs because of it. Struggling to support his wife and three children on low wages, Paul's father developed an alcohol problem, which led to the end of the marriage.

Mrs. Kopacz struggled to support the family as a single mother. But she gave her children a strong faith in God and in service to America. The first two songs Paul learned were "Jesus Loves Me" and the "Marine Corps Hymn." Nonetheless, Paul's older brother drifted into trouble with the law. At age 17 he received an ultimatum from the judge: "I'm sick and tired of seeing you here. You have a choice: Go into the military or get a long sentence in jail." The brother chose the Marine Corps, and after boot camp he was a changed man.

But Paul had already picked up many of his brother's delinquencies. "I told him when he came home from basic training," Paul remembers, "what I had been doing — following in his earlier ways of stealing. That night he sat me down and taught me the meaning of honor." When Paul confessed to things like breaking into a house and shoplifting toys, his brother cut him short: "That's stupid! That's not honor." From then on, Paul's older brother would mail him gifts and advice. "He would send me Marine camouflage clothes — but without the Marine Corps emblem. He'd tell me 'You've got to earn that. That's what honor means.'"

Paul was a popular kid in school, and he used his aptitude for humor to hide his learning disabilities. But in junior high a teacher became annoyed and started calling him stupid. Nevertheless, he kept being "socially promoted" to the next grade.

Male neighbors and the fathers of friends tried to mentor him. One took Paul to see the film Top Gun, which further fueled his ambition to fly. While he was in high school, Operation Desert Storm was launched. Paul didn't want to miss the experience and tried to enlist, but his mother wouldn't sign. The two compromised on his entering the Reserves. He told his Reserves instructor that he wanted to go to a service academy. "Who do you know, Kopacz?" an instructor asked. "Is your family friends with a congressman or senator? It's impossible; you better plan a more realistic military career path." But his strong faith led him to believe nothing was impossible.

Meanwhile, his bravery led him to intervene in an attempted carjacking. Just after Marine boot camp in December 1991, Kopacz was out running when he saw a suspicious character, who appeared to have a pistol, grab an older man, hit him in the head, and grab his car keys. Kopacz hesitated, said a quick prayer, reached for a knife he had in his pocket, and chased the criminal.

The crook jumped in his own vehicle and promptly ran Paul over. Though he feared his leg might be broken, Paul memorized the car's license plate, meanwhile administering first aid to the old man. The crook was finally caught and sent to jail. He had committed the crime as part of a gang initiation and though all this happened at noon at a busy grocery store, no one else was willing to testify against him. Kopacz kept his heroism to himself, telling his family he had hurt his leg falling. When the Los Angeles Times tracked him down he refused to talk — because he was embarrassed he hadn't acted more quickly.

When Kopacz enrolled at Pasadena City College, he finally discovered his learning disabilities. The school's specialists taught him ways to cope and succeed: computers and audiotapes in particular helped him focus his attention and improve his learning skills. While in college, Paul continued in the Reserves and also trained as an Emergency Medical Technician.

Paul had often asked experienced Marines who they especially respected as officers. Many praised the men who had been schooled at The Citadel, South Carolina's prominent military academy. Though he'd never heard of the place, he looked into it, and liked the sound of its high standards and single-sex environment. For two months he composed a letter that he finally sent to The Citadel admissions committee:

Dear Sirs:

Enclosed is my application for admission to The Citadel for the fall 1993 term. Though I don't ask for special consideration, I do ask that you recognize the following when making your determination as to my qualifications to attend The Citadel.

As a child I had an undiagnosed learning disability; I grew up being called stupid, and unfortunately began to believe that of myself. However, after I entered high school, I realized the desire and ability to succeed comes from within, and I have since applied myself with more determination than ever.

During my senior year of high school I joined the Marine Reserves. At the age of 17 in Marine Corps boot camp the drill instructor chose me to be in charge of 64 recruits all older than myself. At Marine Combat Training I was squad leader.

I have completed two semesters in college, and I am maintaining a 4.0 GPA as well as becoming an EMT. I hope I've shown you that I'm worth waiving the fact that I do not have a foreign language or high ACT score. We know that it does not take a genius to make a leader. It does take determination and a big heart and I have both.

Thank you for your consideration,

Paul B. Kopacz

The impossible happened. Kopacz was accepted into The Citadel. He had no money for the cross-country flight, but when he described his situation to the Marines in Pasadena they arranged a seat on a military transport. At school, through hard work and determination, Paul continued to be singled out for high honors. "I was able to excel because I wasn't afraid of raising my hand and asking questions. There were no girls to look foolish in front of." During his breaks, the father of a roommate gave him a job at an ice factory that paid for his expenses.

Paul discovered the Marine Corps scholarship, which pays for two years of college in exchange for four years of Marine service, and won one to cover his final two years of tuition. The young man who had been pegged over and over as a low performer eventually achieved the high honor of becoming Company Commander at The Citadel in 1997.

One advantage his position at The Citadel gave Kopacz was a very impressive way to ask his girlfriend, Cherri, to marry him. Paul was in charge of an "arc detail," where the cadets practice marching as a color guard and setting up an arc of crossed swords. Paul put on his white dress uniform and asked Cherri to marry him by singing the song "Forever and Ever Amen" near the river in downtown Charleston. She said yes, and they walked through a detail of Marines under a canopy of crossed swords straight to a horse-drawn carriage Paul had waiting.

After graduating, Kopacz moved to the Marine Corps' Basic School for officers in Quantico, Virginia. He still dreamed of becoming a pilot, but the odds against him were long: Only six men out of the class of 228 could earn a flying slot. But Paul — who had picked up the nickname "Rudy," after the movie about the underdog Notre Dame student-athlete Rudy Ruettiger — made it. When it was announced he would have a chance to fly, the other officers cheered and "dog-piled" on him to celebrate.

But before he could begin flight training in Pensacola, Fla., Paul began to have problems with his eyes. His vision was only 20/50. He had to have at least 20/30 vision to enroll. Paul went to church at the Brownsville Assembly of God, told a prayer team how he didn't want to lose his dream, and hoped for a miracle. His next vision test turned out 20/30.

Today, Lieutenant Paul Kopacz — who could have ended up as another throw-away kid failed by our schools — enjoys a much different outcome. He is living his dream, thanks to hard work, determination, his faith, and the faith that a military institution called The Citadel showed in him.