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The WWII Army veteran helped liberate the German concentration camp at Ebensee, Austria.
VIENNA
Fred Kubli Jr., a World War II Army veteran, was promoted to the honorary rank of Air Force Reserve brigadier general in recognition of his volunteer service to the Youngstown Air Reserve Station and its 910th Airlift Wing.
Kubli’s medical unit, the 139th Evacuation Hospital, helped liberate the German concentration camp at Ebensee, Austria, in May 1945.
“We smelled burning flesh miles before we entered the camp. There were piles of bodies and living skeletons that it was hard to believe were still able to move,” Kubli, then 24, said in a previous Vindicator story.
The ceremony Feb. 3 at the air reserve station produced much happier memories for Kubli, 93, of Howland, formerly of Niles.
Kubli, who is involved in many projects at the air station and in the community, said his No. 1 project is the Youngstown Air Reserve Base Community Council of which he is treasurer and which he helped found 30 years ago to raise money to do things for the reserves that the Air Force doesn’t fund.
He said one of his favorite Community Council projects is the 910th Airlift Wing Pilot for a Day program, in which children with chronic or life-threatening health conditions are made honorary second lieutenants and 910th pilots for a day.
“I can’t believe I get the privilege and honor of promoting a true hero to honorary brigadier general,” Brigadier Gen. Brian E. Dominguez, 910th Airlift Wing commander, said of Kubli during the ceremony.
“The past 30 years, he hasn’t worked for a paycheck. He gave and gave and gave, and he continues to give and give and give. From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank you,” Dominguez said to Kubli.
Dominguez also recognized Kubli’s wife of 69 years, LaVerne, calling her a “soulmate and teammate” without whom Kubli would not have been able to accomplish all that he has.
This is Kubli’s second honorary promotion.
Four years ago, he was made an honorary colonel and commander of the 910th Airlift Wing by Brigadier Gen. Karl McGregor, then-commander of the 910th and the air reserve station and now Air Force military deputy director of strategic planning.
Kubli’s involvement in community organizations includes the Trumbull Metropolitan Housing Authority, of which he is vice president, and membership at Living Lord Lutheran Church in Howland.
Kubli used his war experience as the basis for speeches he gave as a member of Toastmasters International and for many talks at area schools as well as for Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Veterans Day ceremonies.
He came to Niles to work at RMI Titanium (later Reactive Metals and RMI and now RTI), in 1960 as a staff metallurgist. He was manager of customer technical services and quality assurance when he retired in 1991.
The Kublis have four children, Atty. David F., Timothy, Diane Marrara and Michele Kubli; eight grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
Reacting to his latest honorary promotion, Kubli said: “I’m honored beyond any expectations. I will do my best to honor this position, so help me, Lord.”