RIFLE — This community paused Sunday to lay to rest a native son who became one of America’s real-life top guns.
About 900 relatives and friends attended the funeral service for Air Force Capt. Will “Pyro” DuBois, who died Dec. 1 when his F-16 crashed in Jordan early in a flight that was to be an attack on Islamic State targets.
The flag at Rifle High School fluttered at half-staff in a crisp breeze as mourners joined an honor guard awaiting the arrival of DuBois’ casket. It was still at the end, when F-16s from Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada blasted over the school in a missing man formation to honor the 30-year-old New Castle native.
In between those moments, longtime friends and military colleagues sought to honor DuBois’ life and console his family with tales of a loyal and funny friend, an adventurer in life who “was the nicest guy I ever met,” as college roommate and fellow Air Force Capt. Dan Kulp put it.
Col. Paul Murray — 20th Fighter Wing commander at Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina, from which DuBois’ 77th Fighter Squadron, the Gamblers, was deployed in October to help neutralize the extremist Islamic State, which has seized land in Syria and Iraq — outlined a remarkable beginning to DuBois’ military career.
DuBois was twice named the top fighter pilot in his class — so-called top gun awards — and had quickly become an F-16 instructor, flight leader and combat commander.
Among those paying respects Sunday was Gov. John Hickenlooper, who spoke with DuBois’ father before the service but did not address the crowd.
“Part of the job of governor is being consoler in chief,” Hickenlooper said. “I represent the people of Colorado, so when I come it’s like the whole state is here. It says, ‘You mattered.’ “
DuBois is survived by his wife, Ashley, whom he married on Sept. 30, shortly before his deployment. He also is survived by his parents, Donna and William “Ham” DuBois; his sister, Devon; and her son, Karsen, among other relatives.
