5.17.05 Dustin,
I'd like to thank you for sacrifising your life to protect
our country. I never knew you personally but I am a
best friend of one of your cousins, Lizzi. When I found
out about what happened to you it made me think. Life
can pass us in just one second, so live your life while
you have it and never worry about what trouble might
be ahead. I know i never knew you personally but through
reading all the other posts and listening to Lizzi and
her Mom talk about you, I realized that you must have
lived that way. And for that I am proud of you and Idolize
you.
Signed a True Admirer,
Sarah
5.17.05 Dustin,
Sorry it has taken me so long to write, it has been
a long week. I just want to let you know that I love
you, and I miss you so much. It's unreal that I'm not
going to see your smiling face ever again, but I've
got plenty of memories to take with me until I see you
again. I have done my best to be there for Kristin,
your family and the rest of our friends, and I am so
glad you are not alone, and I know you and Erdy are
up there together (most likely causing all sorts of
trouble)! It was really good to see everyone this week,
I saw a lot of our friends from when we hung out in
high school. Kristin is hanging in there, but I know
she misses you so much. Ashley has been very supportive
to her all week, and I know Kristin is going to have
to be strong for her this weekend. Your family is in
really good care right now, Brandon has been just amazing,
and I know you are so glad they have someone like him
in their lives. I never got a chance to thank you for
being so brave to fight for our country. You are truly
a hero, and that's what you will be remembered as. I
know you're up there watching over all of us, and it
won't be too long until you get to see all of us again.
To Stephanie, Kristin, Brandon, Kristin, Chris and Scott
- it's gonna be really hard at first to keep going without
Dustin, but you have all shown such great strength this
past week, and the love and memories you still have
of him will help you get through this. I love you all,
and you are in my thoughts and prayers.
Dustin - I love you, babe, and I'll see you soon.
Love always,
Stephanie
5.17.05 I did not know Dustin, but I don't think that
matters because he was fighting for me and for all Americans.
That honor I will hold in my heart forever. I am so
very sorry for his loss. - Sara S. 5.17.05 Dustin..
I can't believe you are really gone. It seems like yesterday
that I met you. Even though we were not close you will
always be remembered in my heart. I will always remember
that smile you had on your face at the firehouse and
the time you rode with Nick at the police department.
You were a great person and touched the lives of many.
I only wish I would have gotton to know you better.
Thank you for fighting for us Americans. You are a true
hero as well as your friend Nick and are missed by many.
You and Nick take care of eachother as I am sure you
will. You were a great person that I can't wait to see
again someday in heaven.
This is to Kristin:
I never got to meet you but you are a very strong person.
From the letters I have read from you the two of you
appeared to be in love. I am sure Dustin will watch
over you and can't wait to see you again soon. You had
a great boyfriend. Stay strong and know that I pray
for you every day.
To Dustins family:
You had a great son. He touched the lives of many and
will be greatly missed. From everything that I have
read you all were a great family and I wish I would
have known you. Continue to stay strong, Dustin will
keep you safe. My prayers are with you each and every
day!
With love,
Ashleigh Dempsey
5.17.05 Derga and Erdy were one of the first guys I
got to know when I joined the unit. They were all about
having fun and enjoying life. Even in Iraq they seemed
to make the worst situations turn into great ones. Their
character is what made our platoon what it "was",
we were full of jokes, laughter, and memorable experiences.
1st platoon will never be the same without them and
the others we lost, they were great guys and they will
be remembered in our hearts forever, they will never
be forgotten. - Martin
5.16.05 Hey buddy, I hope you are getting along well
in heaven with all of your buddies especially Erdy.
I never comprehended how good of a friend you were until
it was too late. I sit here and think back on the memories
we had at the firehouse and at Battalion 8's. We shared
so many good times and I wish we could have more, but
God needed a good marine up there and I think He got
more than he bargained for, He got a GREAT marine. I
will always remember your smile and personallity, which
was a unique, but funny one. You never knew a stranger
and that is one of many things that made you a great
person. You are the bravest person I know for the fact
you wanted to go over seas and fight for what you believed
in no matter what the consequences were. You are my
hero and forever will be, and I love you for that. You
have made me realize how precious life is and I promise
you as everyday goes by I will remember you, and that
alone will make me a better person for the rest of my
life. Thank You!
To Chris: I am so sorry for the loss of your buddy.
I've been through this a lone time ago so I know what
you are going through. Ashleigh and I are always here
for you whenever you need us. Watching you and Dustin
hang out together and you telling all of us at the firehouse
all the crazy stories of you two will be unforgettable.
You and Dustin are the true meaning of friends and I
don't think anybody will ever be able to match that.
I'm here for you always and I love you.
To Dustin's family: I dont know you all well but just
from the stories I've heard, you all are a great family
and very strong and you will always have support from
Dustin's friends whether you know them or not. My thoughts
and prayers go out to you.
When God calls me home one day I know you will be there
with open arms.
your friend,
Jason Roshon Basil Fire
5.16.05 Hi Dustin,
Your Dad and I just got done reading all the e-mails
to you from friends and family and even people who did
not know you personally. I am awed but not surprised
at how many people you touched in your 24 years of life.
I know you certainly touched mine in the short 7 years
I knew you. I can remember being so scared of saying
something stupid the first time I met you and your sister
Kristin. You guys thought I did'nt like you because
I was so quiet when in fact I was just plain scared
of you not liking me. I love your father so very much.
I have always wanted you to accept me into your life.
Thank you for the last few years when I feel you really
did that. The many times we had opportunities to talk
and spend time together have helped me feel very loved
by you. I will always be your devoted and "Proud
Marine Mom". Your life is a relfection of how much
you loved. Your sacrafice for our country can never
be repaid. My love and respect for you will never end.
I am so glad that I know with peace and certainty that
you are "home and safe" in Heaven. I am so
glad I was able to answer most your very hard questions
about the love of Christ and the mystries of our faith.
I am glad you are now able to get all those questions
answered from the source! Praise God for that. Thanks
for the hail storm! Your Dad and I need to keep in mind
that both you and God can have a sense of humor! Help
us to learn how to smile again now that you are gone.
Nothing will ever fill that void. But while we will
greive you all our lives we do not despiar and we will
see you in heaven and be there with you forever. Love
always Your "Proud Marine Mom" Marla
5.16.05 Dustin,
After hearing your father and Kristin speak today, I
have even more faith that you and Nick are standing
together, hand -in-hand, in Heaven with God....smiling
down on all of us. Thank you again for your bravery
and for fighting for freedom. We'll all meet again soon,
and all sorrow will be forgotten. With Love,
Kevin Strawser / BJFD / NTFD L-1723
5.16.05 To Dustin's family and Chris,
I am so sorry I could not make it to Dustin's memorial
services. I wish I could have been there. He was a great
guy, friend and I know he was an awesome son and brother.
I will never forget the time he wanted all of us, our
senior year, to lay down along side Hamilton Rd and
watch the airplanes land at Port Columbus. He was always
a blast and he will be missed. My thoughts and prayers
are with your family and Chris Smith who was truly the
definition of a best friend.
Love,
Coleen*
5.16.05 To the family of Dustin: Our thoughts and prayers
are with you right now. We have never met any of you
or Dustin, but it is obvious that Dustin was a truely
courageous person. He lost his life on earth for the
freedom of others. We are the Aunt and Uncle of Trevor
Smith who is a very close friend of Dustin's and still
over in Iraq. We be keeping Trevor and all the others
that are still over there in very strong prayers. We
know Dustin will be watching over them also. Julia and
Dan Smith
5.16.05 DUSTINS FAMILY,
MY HEART GOES OUT TO ALL OF YOU. DUSTIN IS IN A BETTER
PLACE AND GOD WILL TAKE GOOD CARE OF HIM.FROM WHAT I
HAVE READ DUSTIN REALLY SEEMS LIKE A GREAT PERSON.I
DONT KNOW ANY OF YOU OR DUSTIN BUT REALLY WISH I COULD
HAVE.TO HIS GIRLFRIEND KRISTIN,I CANT SAY I KNOW HOW
YOU ARE FEELING BECAUSE I DONT JUST KNOW I WILL BE PRAYING
FOR YOU AND THE FAMILY.I WANT TO GIVE YOU THIS POEM
THAT I HAVE. I GAVE THE SAME THING TO MY SISTER WHEN
HER BOYFRIEND HAD DIED...I THINK HE WOULD WANT YOU TO
HAVE IT.FROM WHAT I READ YOU BOTH SEEM LIKE YOU WERE
VERY MUCH IN LOVE....
WHEN IN THE NIGHT YOU REACH FOR ME AND FEEL THAT I AM
NOT THERE JUST REACH INSIDE DEEP INSIDE YOUR HEART.
YOU'LL FIND ME EVERYWHERE.I AM THE WHISPER IN THE BREEZE
THAT GENTLY BRUSH YOUR CHEEK.I'M THE LIGHT AS MORNING
WAKES THAT MAKES YOU FEEL SO WEAK.THE TAPPING ON YOUR
WINDOW PANE.AS RAIN DROPS TRICKLE DOWN. I AM THE WORMTH
THAT COVERS YOU AND TAKES AWAY ALL FROWNS.I AM THE SMILE
UP ON YOUR FACE.WHEN EVERYTHING SEEMS WRONG,JUST CLOSE
YOU EYES.....LISTEN CLOSE..MY LOVE IS ALL AROUND....
MAY GOD BE WITH YOU ALL..
K.MILSTEAD
5.16.05 To the family of Dustin,
I am very, very sorry for your loss, Dustin was a fine
young man who strived to do his best at everything he
did. We at Columbus Processing greive with you during
this extremely sorrowfull time as we mourn the loss
of a dear friend and a respected co-worker. I was also
a Marine so Dustin and I would sometimes talk about
the Corps and kid around about his "New Corps"
versus my "Old Corps." He was a fantastic
individual and I am honored to have have known him.
Sincerely,
Paul E. Conningham
Operations Manager-Mittal Steel USA Columbus Processing
5.16.05 we would like to say our heart goes out to
you and your family.we did not know you or your family!!!!(wish
we could have) .we are sorry for what has happend.just
know he is in a better place we will be praying for
you all .and to his girlfriend . this is something i
think he would want you to know....when in the night
you reach for me and feel that i'm not there just reach
inside,deep inside your heart.you'll find me everywhere.i
am the whisper ,in the brezze that gently brush you
cheek.im the light that morning wakes that makes you
feel so weak im the wormth that covers you and takes
away all frowns i am the smile upon you face when everything
seems wrong just close your eyes ...listen close, my
love is all around......i feel he would want you to
know that. our heart goes to all of you may god be with
you all..... (THE MILSTEAD)
5.15.05 To Dustin,
I know you are at a place where you will get this message.
I just wanted to say JOB WELL DONE. Once a Marine always
a Marine. You made the ulitmate sacrifice.
Your brother firefighter and a soldier in the United
States Army Reserves. MSG Robert L. Spann 3rd Det 100
Div, NTFD Local 1723
5.15.05 Dustin:
I'm sorry it has taken me so long to write, but I've
had trouble finding what to say. I want to thank you
for fighting for our country, you are a true hero. I
miss you so much. I'll never forget the time Kristin
called me and Heather, you guys wanted us to go sledding
with you, there was only about and inch or so of snow
and it was raining and we didn't even have sleds. Also
when you took us to the melting pot for dinner on our
birthday and tought us how to cook. And the time before
Christmas that the power went out and you and Chris
came over and had lunch with us. You wanted to go sledding
again that day, you were all ready to go in your warm
clothes and then we found out we didn't have any sleds.
And I remember the day I first met you at my sisters
house, it was on Thanksgiving, we sat on the couch and
you watched Mean Girls with us. I remember how excited
Kristin was when she was getting ready to go to Vegas
I went shopping with her on the day of my winter homecoming
to help her pick out some outfits so that she could
look pretty for you. She's very upset but we've been
taking care of her. As well as your mom and sister.
You would be so proud of how strong they are. I went
to your house today and played with Malibu, she misses
you a lot too. God bless you and your family, keep watching
over us. You'll always be in my heart.
Love,
Peanut
5.15.05 Dustin,
I do not know how to put into words how much you have
touched me, and my family. We all miss you very much.
Camden is missing his favorite wrestling partner. I
try to inspire him with tales of people that are "bigger
than life", and toys of heros. You are his real
story and his real hero. He might only be 4, but he
knows. ....Stefanie and I miss you so much. I have been
missing you since the day you left. Those last few nights
at the bar, we had were heartbreaking. Sitting there
for hours after closing time, you , Chris and I. We
did not want the good times to end. I will not forget
those times and I will never forget that last hug......
I know we have only known each other a few short years,
but this last year we got to be very close. I consider
you a PAL. My father told me once, that a PAL is more
than a friend. He is someone you can trust with anything,
and know he would never ever do you wrong.
I know when you were gone I should have written you
more. For that I am sorry. You know how hard I took
my fathers death. Since my father passed away I could
not bare to think of losing someone else who was close
to me. You have to believe me, even when you were alive,
I just wanted you to come back so everything could be
like it was. I did not handle it the right way. I pry
you forgive me...... I will never make that mistake
again. I am trying my best to get your name out there
and make sure you will never be forgotten. I know that
is what you would want....
I promise you. I will try to take good care of your
Mom and your Sister, because I know you are worried
about them. You don't have to though, they are very
strong and they have a lot of great people around them.
Brandon, Chris and all your other friends have stepped
up and helped out with everything. You would be very
proud of them. You have a great family and a lot of
great friends. I know you will always be watching over
my family and I and you will always be in our hearts.
I hope to run into you again someday soon.
PAL’S FOREVER, Scotty
To Dustin's family
I hope you know how sorry I am for your loss.
You don't have to worry about him up there. I am sure
My father is taking good care of him. If I know my Dad
he is telling Dustin all the things we could have done
different when opening the bar.
With all of our love and prayer’s the Hammond
family,
Scott, Stefanie, Camden and Kiersten
5.15.05 To Dustin,
Turns out you were one of my cousinsreally good friends.
he misses you alot!! you are a very good person for
serving your contrey like that! Thank You so much for
what you did!
~Paige Ruffner~