John David Silvers

West Point graduate believes in giving back to the community.

By Petra Chesner Schlatter, BucksLocalNews.com


“A lifetime of service will present challenges in your life,” said U.S. Army Capt. John David Silvers.

At 42, Silvers is a freshman member of the Upper Makefield Township Board of Supervisors. He strongly believes in giving back to his community.

He is past president of the Upper Makefield Business Association, former co-chairman of the annual Revolutionary Run in Washington Crossing and former chairman of the Bucks County March for Babies Walk in 2008 and 2009.

Originally from Harrisburg, Silvers now lives in Upper Makefield with his wife, Catherine, and their two children, John Jr. and Laura. The couple runs Academic Coaching and College Counseling in Newtown.

Like father, like son – John Jr., a graduate of Newtown Middle School, is a proud American. He was awarded the American Legion Citizenship Award, the highest honor that the school awards annually.

“John is very patriotic,” Silvers said. “There is a good chance that he will go into the service, but for anyone who serves, that’s a personal decision. I’m not going to insist that they serve or not serve.”

Silvers, a West Point graduate, said his father, Warren Silvers II, served in the U.S. Air Force from 1966 to 1968 and was stationed in Myrtle Beach, S.C. “He went in as a dentist,” Silvers said, noting his brother, Warren Silvers III, also went into the Air Force as a dentist.

“I joined because I went to West Point,” he said. “I had a five-year obligation upon graduation in 1990. I actually served six years, but I went to West Point for the education and the leadership qualities that they teach.”

Silvers entered West Point in July 1986 at age 18 and entered active duty in May 1990 upon graduation. He was discharged in April 1996 when he was 22.

“I started at West Point for my first assignment as a graduate assistant coach for the football team,” he said. “I played football while I was there. I was a starting offensive tackle.” He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in engineering from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y.

After West Point, he went to Ft. Bliss in El Paso, Texas. While there, he went through the Army Air Defense Artillery officer training course, which prepared newly promoted captains for their command assignments.

He was stationed in Germany with the 4-3ADA regiment of the 3rd Infantry Division.

“My first real duty assignment with a unit was in Germany – a small town called Kissinger,” he said. “One of the things we did as a battalion was we took a professional development trip to Normandy and really gained an appreciation for what it took to establish that beach head.”

They learned about the Invasion of Normandy, which took place during World War II.

For two months, Silvers served in Saudi Arabia while he was stationed in Germany. He also served for two months in Korea. He completed airborne training.

“I jumped out of small airplanes,” he noted. “I was in ranger school, but dislocated my shoulder halfway through,” Silvers said.

His final year in the Army would be as the logistics officer at Ft. McGregor Range in New Mexico. Silvers has fond memories of his time serving in northern Bavaria on Germany’s Main River. The area reminded him of Pennsylvania. The closest city was Wuerzburg.

“We loved it there,” he said. “Catherine and I got married when we were in Germany. We traveled throughout Europe. We actually met while I was stationed at West Point. I’m glad I stayed for those six months because that’s when I met my future wife.”

The young couple rented an apartment while in Germany. Two brothers had built the house in the 1980s. The landlord lived on the first floor and his brother lived on the second floor. The Silvers lived on the third floor. There were slanted ceilings just like the ones in John’s Newtown office. His office is also on the third floor.

They became very close with the German family, to the point that they have visited them several times.

“We were even able to stay in our old apartment because it wasn’t rented,” Silvers said.

Looking ahead, Silvers said his hope is “that we are able to maintain our freedom and appreciate them more deeply."

“For my children, I hope they are able to be good citizens in their communities and to serve them well,” he said.

Silvers stressed that he faces the challenges head on.

"I find the most effective way to work through any of life’s challenges is a Christ-centered approach,” he said. “My faith is very important to me.”