American hero memorialized with bronze statue

By bobby gutierrez [email protected] RBC I was memorialized Sept. 10, 2016 at Grand River Park in New Castle, with the unveiling and dedication of a bronze statue of the fallen fighter pilot. Captain DuBois grew up in New Castle and was graduated from Rifle High School. Hundreds attended and many were bused to the park, located on the south side of I-70 and the Colorado River, for the ceremony, which included the National Anthem, sung by his childhood friend Thomas Breslin, speeches by New Castle Mayor Art Riddile, Garfield County Commissioner Tom Jankovsky and Major General H. Michael Edwards. Captain DuBois attended the University of Colorado on a full ride ROTC scholarship to study Aerospace Engineering, graduating with honors and was accepted into an elite pilot training program ENJEPT (Euro Nato Joint Jet Pilot Training) at Sheppard Air Force base in Texas and then on to F16 training at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona. DuBois was twice named the top fighter pilot in his class and earned two top gun awards. He was an F16 instructor pilot, flight lead and combat commander. Captain DuBois flew with the 35th fighter squadron, known as the Pantons, in Korea, where he was earned the call sign “Pyro” and was based at Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina. Captain DuBois was deployed to the middle-east to fight ISIS with the 77th fighter squadron, the Gamblers and died when his jet crashed as he was returning to base assisting his wing man with a mechanical problem. DuBois’s wife Ashley, parents Ham and Donna, sister Devon and his nephew Karsen were also introduced, after which his sister and father shared memories before the unveiling of the statue. Major General H. Michael Edwards also spoke about the 30-year-old pilot, then read a proclamation from Governor John Hickenlooper and presented it to the family. The statue was sculpted by local artist John Kobald who said he had been working on the piece since last fall. “It was a huge honor to get the commission and it was very emotional working with the family after the loss of a hero like that,” Kobald said.