Megadeth’s Dave Mustaine Pens Heartfelt Tribute to Fan Who Died in Car Crash

Fans are the life's blood of musicians and often there are close bonds formed behind the scenes between bands and those who follow them that rarely play out in the public eye. But in the case of Megadeth's Dave Mustaine, he wants to publicly pay tribute to one of his band's most loyal fans who passed away in a car crash earlier this month.

The person in question is Patrick Dubas, a longtime fan of the band who was part of the group's fan club, annually submitted designs for the Megadeth Christmas Card contest and proudly displayed his Megadeth fandom wherever he went, including his service in the U.S. Army Reserves.

Dubas died in a car crash in Nebraska on Tuesday (March 3). Mustaine joined Megadeth webmaster Dave McRobb in penning a moving tribute that can be read below:

It is with great sadness that we say farewell to one of Megadeth's most loyal fans and friend, Patrick Dubas. Pat lost his life in a fatal car crash Tuesday morning, March 3 near 186th & State Street in Bennington, Nebraska.
Pat was a Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Army Reserves as a Transportation Specialist for 23 years. He had served two tours in Iraq from 2003-2004 and 2007-2008, and one in Kuwait from 2009-2010. He served with the 172nd Transportation Company (disbanded) and the 443rd Transportation Company. With serving honorably in the U.S Army Reserve, Pat was also a Military Technician for the Department of the Army as a Heavy Mobile Equipment Repairer and a Tool Room Specialist for 12 years.
Pat was a loyal Megadeth fan, Cyber Army club member and friend. Every year he would be excited to submit his Christmas Card designs to the Megadeth Christmas Card Contest, and he holds the record for being in the Top 10, four times. He won the card contest in 2012 and was runner up in 2010, 2011, and 2014. He was already working on a Christmas Card design for 2015. Pat had attended meet 'n greets with Megadeth, would wear his Megadeth shirts proudly at home and overseas, would correspond with us here at Megadeth.com on a regular basis, and even had a tattoo of Vic Rattlehead with a Staff Sergeant insignia.
Pat had this special ability to brighten the day of anyone he came in contact with. Whenever you were in a group with him, the laughter from his humor was infectious. He was a great Soldier, Non-Commissioned Officer, a loving husband and dedicated family man leaving behind his wife, Terri, his two sons and a granddaughter.
Thank you for your service and for being such a loyal fan and friend. We will miss you, Pat."
Dave Mustaine & Dave McRobb

Mustaine also posted the band's song "A Tout Le Monde," which can be heard in the player below. And for fans wanting to check out some of Dubas' Megadeth's Christmas Card submissions, visit Mustaine's post here. Our condolences to Dubas' family and his extended Megadeth family.

Megadeth, "A Tout Le Monde"

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