Fort Lewis commander General Dubik relinquishes command to deploy to Iraq this week

Left. Lt. Gen. James Dubik. Above: Stryker Soldiers out of Fort Lewis take a knee and provide security during a joint foot patrol with Iraqi Army forces in Mansour, Baghdad on April 10

FORT LEWIS, Wash. — Lt. Gen. James Dubik is relinquishing his command of Fort Lewis to deploy to Iraq, where he will join nearly 10,000 troops from the base who are stationed there.

Dubik, 57, will turn over Fort Lewis to his deputy, Brig. Gen. William Troy, on Monday, then fly to Baghdad to take over the effort to train Iraqi military and police forces. He has commanded the base for the past two and a half years, and says he plans to keep in close contact with the soldiers who were formerly under his command.

During an interview with reporters Friday, he said he wants to “do my part on behalf of the soldiers I’ve commanded here,” and said he believes the war is necessary.

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