A tattoo honoring Lieutenant General (ret) John A. Dubia.

Official West Point/Army Blue

John A. Dubia was born July 17, 1943, in Dayton, Ohio, the son of an Army officer. He attended Georgetown University before entering the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. Upon graduation in 1966, he was commissioned a second lieutenant of the Field Artillery.

Eyes of Texas

His first assignment was with Battery C, 1st Battalion, 78th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Armored Division in Fort Hood, Texas. There he served as an Executive Officer and later, Commander. While stationed at Fort Hood, he married Maureen McDonough from Connecticut. Before leaving Fort Hood, he would become Aide to the III Corps Chief of Staff.

Warrior March

Captain Dubia was assigned to 1st Battalion, 7th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, Republic of Vietnam, where he served as the Assistant S-3 (Operations) and later, the Commander of Battery A, 1st Battalion, 7th Field Artillery Regiment. He was also assigned to the 2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division as the Brigade Fire Support Officer while in Vietnam. While he was in Vietnam, Maureen gave birth to their first son, John, Junior.

South Dakota Victory/Hail SD

In October of 1969, Captain Dubia entered the Infantry Officer Advanced Course at the United States Army Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia. Upon graduation from both the Infantry and Field Artillery Officer Advanced Course, he became Assistant Professor of Military Science at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, South Dakota. While there he earned his Masters Degree in Business Administration. He also helped welcome another son, Michael.

My Three Sons

After leaving South Dakota, Captain Dubia headed to Texas to serve as the Assistant S-3 (Operations), 2nd Armored Division Artillery at Fort Hood. In 1973, the third Dubia son, Christopher, was born. Captain Dubia took command of the Headquarters and Headquarters Battery of the 1st Battalion, 78th Field Artillery Regiment. He then assumed the duties of the S-3 (Operations) of the battalion.

Wizard of Oz 

Following his June 1975 promotion, Major Dubia attended the United States Army Command and General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. After completion of the Command and General Staff College, he was assigned to the United States Army Personnel Center in Alexandria, Virginia, as the Joint and Staff Assignment Officer. Major Dubia then served as the Coordination, Analysis and Reports Staff Officer for the Chief of Staff, United States Army, Pentagon. Following that he was Special Activities Team Staff Officer in the same office.

Iron Soldier March

Major Dubia's next tour was overseas in Germany where he was assigned to 1st Armored Division Artillery, United States Army Europe, as the S-3 (Operations). It was during that assignment, he would be promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. He then assumed command of 1st Battalion, 22nd Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Armored Division Artillery in Germany. Upon completion of command, he was chosen as the Assistant Chief of Staff, G-1 (Personnel) for the Division.

Washington Post March

Upon returning from Europe, Lieutenant Colonel Dubia became a student at the Industrial College of the Armed Forces at Fort McNair in Washington, DC. After graduation, he was the Chief of the Executive Actions/Congressional Team with the office of the Chief of Staff of the United States Army. In April 1987, while in the position of Division Chief of the Executive Actions Division, Lieutenant Colonel Dubia was promoted to Colonel.

Beer Barrel Polka

Colonel Dubia's next tour took him back to Europe to command the 1st Armored Division Artillery. While there, in March of 1990, Colonel Dubia became the Executive to the Commander in Chief in the United States Army Europe and Seventh Army.

Hail Columbia

In August 1990, Colonel Dubia would once again find himself at our nation's capital. While in the post of Executive Secretary to the Secretary of Defense, he would receive his first star. Brigadier General Dubia's boss at the time was then-Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney who told Dubia that he was the first officer in any of the Services whom he had promoted to Flag or General Officer and he had been the Secretary of Defense for approximately 15 months at the time.

In the fall of 1992, Brigadier General Dubia became the Director of Officer Personnel Management Directorate, United States Total Army Personnel Command in Alexandria, Virginia.

Oklahoma

That following summer, the warm wheat-filled plains of Oklahoma would call Brigadier General Dubia to Fort Sill to become the 39th Chief of the Field Artillery and Commanding General of the United States Army Field Artillery Center and Fort Sill. In 1994, while Chief of the Field Artillery, Major General Dubia made an official counterpart visit to the Chief of the Artillery for the British Army. While there, Major General Dubia and his wife, Maureen, had lunch with the Queen Mother. Maureen was a big hit because the Queen Mother commented how much she loved her accent.

Major General Dubia received his third star while assuming duties as the Director of the Army Staff in Washington, DC. After four years as the Director of the Army Staff, Lieutenant General Dubia retired in August 1999.

God Bless America

Lieutenant General Dubia's awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit (with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters), the Bronze Star Medal (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters), the Meritorious Service Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), Air Medals, the Army Commendation Medal (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters) and the Army Achievement Medal. He also wears the Parachutist Badge, the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge and the Army Staff Identification Badge.

Caisson Song

After 33 years of active duty, General Dubia still serves and continues to give back to the Field Artillery Community and soldiers all over the world. He currently is the Executive Vice President of the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association. He is also President of the US Field Artillery Association Capital Cannoneers Chapter in Washington, DC. And for six years, he was the Co-Chairman of the Chief of Staff of the Army's Retiree Council.

Whether he is speaking at the Veterans Convention in Mitchell, South Dakota, or dancing the night away with Mo at the Field Artillery Ball, or serving on the national boards of the Fisher House Foundation and the Armed Services YMCA, General Dubia gives his all ... giving true meaning to the phrase Retired and Still Serving.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

A tattoo is an military exercise given by troops as evening entertainment. The word 'tattoo' comes from the closing time cry in the inns of the Low Countries during the 17th and 18th centuries-Doe den tap toe ('turn off the taps').

As performed by the 77th Army Band during the USFAA General Membership Meeting held on 1 June 2006 at Fort Sill, OK.

RELATED ARTICLE: US Field Artillery Association Tattoo Recipients

1984 General Donald R. Keith 

1985 General Walter T. Kerwin, Jr.

1986 Lieutenant General David E. Ott

1987 General Jack N. Merritt 

1988 Major General Charles P. Brown

1989 General Maxwell R. Thurman 

1990 General Berton E. Spivy

1991 General Carl E. Vuono

1992 Lieutenant General Willard W. Scott

1993 Lieutenant General Richard W. Trefry

1994 Command Sergeant Major H. J. Goodwin

1996 Lieutenant General Robert H. Forman

1998 Major General Ansel M. Stroud, Jr.

1999 General Dennis J. Reimer

2001 General J.H. Binford Peay III

2002 General Tommy R. Franks

2003 General John W. Vessey, Jr.

2006 Lieutenant General John A. Dubia