Private First Class Papa was a veteran of World War II. In Korea, he was a member of Company E, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division. He was Killed in Action while fighting to retake "Line Kansas" the enemy in North Korea on 3 June 1951.

Papa was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation, the Republic of Korea War Service Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.