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By DEVASTASHA BEAVER Staff Writer beaver @s. tarbeacon.com ASHTABULA — Memorial Day is observed to recognize the men and women whose lives were lost fighting for this coun try, but to one local family, Memorial Day is year-round. Fred Dubach Jr. lost his brother, Gary Lynn Dubach, at only age 19, to the Vietnam War on Feb. 14, 1969. He said it tore his fam ily apart. He was a quiet guy, soft spo ken and he got along with every one. He was a good guy.” Dubach said. “He was going to come back from Vietnam and take over the family (auto-repair) business from my dad. He was looking forward to coming home, getting a car, and he had a girlfriend he planned on staying with. He was killed Valentine's Day 1969. Needless to say, we don’t cele borate Valentine's Day.” Dubach said his father, Fred Dubach Sr. served in World War II, and after Gary was killed, Dubach said he enlisted in the Amy “to get even,” but did not go to Vietnam. He said he had a younger brother who also enlist ed and served in Germany. “We were raised out in Saybrook on Route 84 in kind of farm, atmosphere,” Dubach said. My uncle had dairy cows, and we grew up working out there. Then he got drafted into the military. They called his num ber in 1967, maybe 1968. Gary was a Spec. 4 Crew Chief helicopter mechanic when the ‘model UH-1H “Huey” helicopter hhe was on was shot down in Binh Long Province in South Vietnam. He was assigned to the First Air Cavalry, 15th Medical Battalion and was attempting to pick up the ‘wounded soldiers from the 1st ‘Squadron, 9th Cavalry’s battle. Gary served in Vietnam begin ning June 11, 1968 after complet ing his basic training in Ft. Knox, Ky. and graduating from the Aircraft Maintenance Course at Ft. Rucker, Ala. He was the 14th Vietnam casualty in Ashtabula County GARY DUBACH is shown above during active service in Vietnam in one of the photos sent home to his family. Miliary rites were conducted for Spec. 4 Gary L. Dubach (left) who was killed in Vietnam Feb. 14, 1969. A military team from Ft. Knox, Ky. Edgewood Gorey. The metaly, flag-draped casket is seen as it was borne from the John Duero Son Funeral Home, where services were conducted, fan angle. “He was hit in the back Dubach said. ‘of the head by the rotor when he Medic ‘Spec. 4 Stephen ran out to set up the perimeter.” S@@ GARY, Page AG down, leading to his death. The medevac Huey is being repurposed into a traveling memorial for those who fought and served in helicopters. Dubach said that when the heli copter crashed, the landing skids broke off and it came to a rest at
Newspaper Details
Ashtabula Star Beacon
Ashtabula, Ohio, US
Mon, May 26, 2014
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Full Page
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Jared D.
USA 28 Aug 2026
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