Dyess civilian retires for second time after 57 years of service

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt William-Joseph Mojica
  • 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (ACCNS) --  In 1952, Harry S. Truman was serving as the 33rd president of the United States and gas was a minuscule 20 cents a gallon. Penny loafers were in style and legendary film icon Marilyn Monroe was the "talk" of Hollywood. This was the year John Junior Jupin enlisted into the Air Force, which was only 5 years old at the time. 

Now, the 7th Civil Engineer Squadron Chief of Planning is preparing to "hang up his hat" after more than a half century of service.

Born and raised in Maybeury, W.Va., Mr. Jupin said his choices after high school were limited to the coal mines, college or the Air Force.

"Being from West Virginia, I didn't want to work in the coal mines, and I didn't want to go to college at the time, so I decided to come in the military," he said. He joined at age 17.

Soon after, Mr. Jupin deployed to Korea as an airframe repairman where he worked on the F-86 Sabre, a premiere aircraft at the time, much like the B-1 of today.

"It was a great experience for a young man just out of high school, and I grew up to be quite a man at that time because of the war," he said.

Mr. Jupin married shortly after returning from Korea, and they soon had their first child. He said he owes much to his family for their support throughout his career.

"They were the big backbone of my military career, and if it weren't for them, I would not have made it," he said.

Mr. Jupin "made it" through 23 years of active duty before retiring as a chief master sergeant in 1975. He said one of his most memorable events during his career was when astronaut Neil Armstrong walked on the moon July 20, 1969.

"That was a proud moment for me because I was in Vietnam at that time, and that was a good feeling, which made me proud to be an American," said Mr. Jupin.

Soon after retiring, Mr. Jupin took a job with the Civil Engineer Squadron on Dyess as a maintenance worker where he eventually worked his way up the chain into his current position as the chief of planning.

During his civil service career, Mr. Jupin witnessed several significant changes at Dyess. He was here when the base had the B-52 Stratofortress and the KC-135 Stratotanker. He said he still remembers the arrival of the infamous B-1 Bomber in June of 1985 and when the Tactical Air Command became the Air Combat Command in 1992. Mr. Jupin was also here when the wing transitioned from the 96th Bomb Wing to the 7th Bomb Wing in 1996.

With both careers, Mr. Jupin explained that he often shared a similar frame of mind. He said that when people wear the uniform, they are a dedicated warrior, including civilians.

"As a civilian I just put on a different uniform and carried on the same mission of training the people under me," he said.

Mr. Jupin said he has very much enjoyed his work over the past 57 years and he would do it the same way again, with only minor adjustments. Enjoying his work and enjoying working with others is what he describes as "the best accomplishment from day to day with tomorrow always being better."

Though Mr. Jupin feels he could have furthered his careers faster with a higher education, he said that "attitude is the biggest factor in everyday life and in everything you do." He took the positive with the negative and never looked back.

"Attitude is the first impression you automatically make when walking through a door," said Mr. Jupin. 

He said the time he spent here at Dyess is one he will long remember. 

"It was a super ride, and I never looked back. I love this world and this country, which is still the best. Old warriors never die, they just step aside."