Dube, Mark, SSG

PLEASE DESCRIBE WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE ARMY.
As a teen looking for a way to the "Big Prize" as a over The Road truck driver the military was the fastest way (at the time) to gain the driving experience needed.

WHETHER YOU WERE IN THE SERVICE FOR SEVERAL YEARS OR AS A CAREER, PLEASE DESCRIBE THE DIRECTION OR PATH YOU TOOK. WHERE DID YOU GO TO BASIC TRAINING AND WHAT UNITS, BASES OR SQUADRONS WERE YOU ASSIGNED TO? WHAT WAS YOUR REASON FOR LEAVING?
I joined as a 64C, the only road to eventual career as a Over The Road Truck Driver. Everything pertaining to driving came to me naturally and without a lot of effort. All the training, testing and schooling pertained to 64C/88M came so natural I did have people that really didn't understand it and felt something was wrong with me. So I did my job and decided to ETS. After my initial three years I ETS'd and went on my merry way. Finding out that things had changed for new drivers, insurance regulations and experience requirements. I reluctantly re-entered the Army and decided the only way out was retirement or medical. I dealt with several medical issues since returning from Mogadishu, none seemed related to the deployment, and after four surgeries and 8 years of medical issues that would not go away I was medically "fired". After about 5 years of discontent over the way I was discharged I finally recalled a way I was able to deal with everything in the military - The service was an honor, the people were the problems - And I was able to embrace my life in the Army as a good & honorable thing. Then owning up to it, now I make sure everyone is reminded of the sacrifice I, & many, many others, made/make for our way of life. As it turned out I was medical discharged in 2002. Giving me 21.9 years of Federal Service, but 18.5 years toward retirement. So, no retirement, no medical retirement. In 2012 I applied for a new look at my discharge and was awarded Permanent Medical Retirement. Retrograded to my Med Discharge date.

IF YOU PARTICIPATED IN ANY MILITARY OPERATIONS, INCLUDING COMBAT, HUMANITARIAN AND PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS, PLEASE DESCRIBE THOSE WHICH MADE A LASTING IMPACT ON YOU AND, IF LIFE-CHANGING, IN WHAT WAY?
During my years active I was a part of the bigger Cold War picture and felt the affects of "Cold War Action" while driving truck in Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, The Netherlands & France. In 1983 our men in Grenada were killed. As a further personal affect of this I was one of several drivers that chauffeured our Marines from Flight Line, to Identification tents and on the a Frankfurt Funeral Home. It was a humbling experience and will stay with me for ever. When we - Drivers - heard they ID'd the bomber in the tent (that was on the edge of our trailer yard) several of us wanted to take revenge on the corpse but came to our senses right away, thinking it disrespect our men's memories. Besides, no one wanted to go to jail over the dirt bag any way. As a "Staff/Support Driver" at AFCENT, I was locked in when Desert Shield/Storm raged on. Our security in NATO was just as important, but we all felt we should have been called up to go. I spent my time as a UN Peacekeeper in Mogadishu in 1993. As a distant witness to "Black Hawk Down" and other acts during the period. That was more angering then humbling as we felt that the Somali's really didn't appreciate any thing we did. Grateful for the experience and insight to humanity I was glad to leave.

OF ALL YOUR DUTY STATIONS OR ASSIGNMENTS, WHICH ONE DO YOU HAVE FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY? WHICH WAS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE?
As for fondest memories - I have to say ALL my overseas assignments were good - even Somalia, experience wise. The different countries roads and driving laws were a challenge I loved. Nothing better then legally driving a Big Rig @ 90 MPH, making a 700+ mile round trip in under 10 hours. Or running from Brunssum, NL to Ramstein AB in a NATO Blue Mercades Staff car @ 220 KMP. Didn't really take long though I had to go via Frankfurt. Colonel was shocked when I woke him up when we got there. Happy, but shocked. Also the buses, I never thought I'd be a Bus Driver, but with NATO Motorpool you never know. While in Mogadishu I once caused the "axle stops" on the gun trucks front axle to bend, the gunners were a bit put out but when you have to keep up with the MP's you go, go, go. Even 50 MPH on Somalia "roads". I do have to say that the miles I ran in CONUS were great. 90 MPH through PA. in my M915. Running the fuel truck for convoys from Ft Lewis, WA to NTC, CA. Once was called "A Crazy Suicide Truck" on the CB by the commercial drivers. Had to run over 80 MPH to past the convoys to beat them to the fuel stops. You know the mountains through Oregon have some really tough, steep, and tight curves - at 80 PMH that is.

FROM YOUR ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE, DESCRIBE ANY MEMORIES YOU STILL REFLECT BACK ON TO THIS DAY.
As an Army Truck Driver, there were so many places, so many destinations & people on the way - I have to say it all mattered.

WHAT PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF FROM YOUR MILITARY CAREER?
My first Europe posting was in Germany with the 78th Trans Co, 106th Trans Bn, 37th Trans Grp. I had only 13 months left on my enlistment and was asked if i wanted to just return to the states. I asked for a 37th Gp assignment and if so I

Army Motor Vehicle Instructor in less then 9 months!!!!

would stay. Well, to the 106th BN I went. I later went to the 78th TC. It was a couple months before they got me into the Drivers Academy. Once done, I trained up more with an Army Motor Vehicle Instructor at the unit. During this i was told about the AMVI course and how to get in. Once I got my permits I hit the highways running. I did the 20,000 miles required for AMVI in 5 months. I was determined to be a AMVI before my ETS. During this time of life I just wanted to do my 3 years (for the driving experience to help with Over The Road trucking). Once I got the miles I started checking on going to AMVI school, and was given the idea that if I went to a Group level Transportation Operations Course it would help my chances of going. So next class I took. It worked, in December 1983 (Permit to drive awarded in June '83) I went to AMVI school. Got my AMVI Badge and wore it with pride. Still got it!!!

OF ALL THE MEDALS, AWARDS, FORMAL PRESENTATIONS AND QUALIFICATION BADGES YOU RECEIVED, OR OTHER MEMORABILIA, WHICH ONE IS THE MOST MEANINGFUL TO YOU AND WHY?
Joint Service Commendation Medal - 1992; As during my tour my supervisor and I didn't see eye to eye so he didn't want to see me receive any award. The command forced his hand and then UPGRADED the AAM to the JSCM

CAN YOU RECOUNT A PARTICULAR INCIDENT FROM YOUR SERVICE, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FUNNY AT THE TIME, BUT STILL MAKES YOU LAUGH?
While I was assigned to AFCENT 9 Allied Forces Central Europe), which has a new name(?). My supervisor and I were "not too close". Once my time to PCS came he was ordered to write my PCS award. He sent up a recommendation of an Army Achievement Medal. Now, I

Award my supervisor DID NOT want me to get!

really didn't care about awards, but they did provide some with some sense of what kind of service people felt they provided. I don't recall how I found out about my award but I found out that the AAM recommendation was up graded but Officers I never met. It appeared that the people of the Army Detachment felt my supervisor was not being to Professional. So somewhere in the chain - most of which were Officers I had never met - the award was upgraded to an Joint Service Commendation Medal. When my supervisor found out about this he was livid. He even tried to get it stopped completely. Fortunately for me I was too busy out-proccessing. Once the day came for the presentation, my supervisor refused to be there. All the other supervisors attended for their soldiers. This was the First time some higher level seen me for my achievements and Intervened on my behalf.

WHAT PROFESSION DID YOU FOLLOW AFTER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW? IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY SERVING, WHAT IS YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY?
I was always a Driver - so I drove Over The Road, Cross Country Big Rigs until I was too damaged to drive in 2008. So now I am Disabled, supported by the VA - a real God send. Officially retired and laid back.

WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS ARE YOU A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? WHAT SPECIFIC BENEFITS DO YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIPS?
Life Member Disabled American Veterans; American Legion; Support as a Vet.

IN WHAT WAYS HAS SERVING IN THE MILITARY INFLUENCED THE WAY YOU HAVE APPROACHED YOUR LIFE AND YOUR CAREER? WHAT DO YOU MISS MOST ABOUT YOUR TIME IN THE SERVICE?
"The Service is the Honor, it's the people that make things difficult" So looking past the person you are dealing with will keep you centered.

BASED ON YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY JOINED THE ARMY?
"The Service is the Honor, it's the people that make things difficult"

IN WHAT WAYS HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM HELPED YOU REMEMBER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND THE FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH.
Brought all I know and did back to mind and made me grateful to have served.

DS 7/20/16