~~~~~~~~~~~~UPDATE~~~~~~~~~~~
Please take the time to reread this post and say a prayer or 40 for the family. The soldier who died has a wife and son left behind as well as many other family and friends grieving. His wife took the time to read this post and comment and I think it should be read by everyone. Please pass it along.
I have included the DoD Report and a Report from this soldiers hometown. The sources are linked below each of the two articles. They are verbatim and that is why there are some discrepancies as far as rank between the two articles.
I didn't know him. I didn't know his family. My husband had nothing to do with this mission other than his soldiers were sent to recover the disabled vehicle after the incident.
My heart aches for this family and we're reminded that even this late into the deployment our soldiers still aren't safe.
I don't know what else to say.
DoD Identifies Army Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Spc. Charles D. Parrish, 23, of Jasper, Ala., died June 4 in Balad, Iraq, of wounds suffered earlier that day in Jalula, Iraq, when his vehicle was struck by an anti-tank grenade. He was assigned to the 5th Engineer Battalion, 555th Engineer Brigade, Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.
(SOURCE)
Jasper soldier dies in Iraq
Leaves behind wife and 4-year-old son
Saturday, June 06, 2009
TORAINE NORRIS
News staff writer
Cpl. Dusty Parrish of Jasper was looking forward to coming home from Iraq in July and teaching his 4-year-old son, Caden, the finer points of playing T-ball, said his mother, Tina Rigsby.
The 23-year-old soldier loved sports and played baseball and football at Walker County High School.
Cpl. Parrish died Thursday in northern Iraq in a rocket-propelled grenade attack, Rigsby said. While the Department of Defense has not released an official account of the circumstances of his death, Rigsby said her son was on a reconnaissance mission to clear land mines that night.
Rigsby said her son, an Army medic, died from wounds suffered in the attack.
Cpl. Parrish trained many of the medics who assisted in his surgery after the attack, his mother said. "They said he gave a good fight."
Family members, including his wife, Ashley, were eagerly anticipating Cpl. Parrish's homecoming on July 15.
"He just had another week there," Rigsby said.
She said Cpl. Parrish was stationed at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri and recently had re-enlisted. He had been in Iraq 14 months, she said. Cpl. Parrish was going to be stationed in Columbus, Ga., after returning from Iraq.
A 2003 graduate of Walker County High, he had been in the Army three years.
He was into weightlifting, even winning some body-building competitions while in the Army, his mother said.
"He was very athletic," Rigsby said. "He couldn't wait to get home because this is his son's first year to play T-ball. "He was going to come home and tell him how to bat."
Rigsby said her son excelled at helping others.
"Dusty was the type of person who would make you laugh," she said. "He had an innate ability to make you happy when you were sad."
Rigsby said the family Friday afternoon was still trying to break the news to Caden.
"I hate that we have to tell his son," she said.
(SOURCE)
Please pray for this family and for all of the soldiers and families. It seems we've been forgotten now that this war has been ongoing for 6 years now but families are still being shattered by this damn war.
I have included the DoD Report and a Report from this soldiers hometown. The sources are linked below each of the two articles. They are verbatim and that is why there are some discrepancies as far as rank between the two articles.
I didn't know him. I didn't know his family. My husband had nothing to do with this mission other than his soldiers were sent to recover the disabled vehicle after the incident.
My heart aches for this family and we're reminded that even this late into the deployment our soldiers still aren't safe.
I don't know what else to say.
DoD Identifies Army Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Spc. Charles D. Parrish, 23, of Jasper, Ala., died June 4 in Balad, Iraq, of wounds suffered earlier that day in Jalula, Iraq, when his vehicle was struck by an anti-tank grenade. He was assigned to the 5th Engineer Battalion, 555th Engineer Brigade, Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.
(SOURCE)
Jasper soldier dies in Iraq
Leaves behind wife and 4-year-old son
Saturday, June 06, 2009
TORAINE NORRIS
News staff writer
Cpl. Dusty Parrish of Jasper was looking forward to coming home from Iraq in July and teaching his 4-year-old son, Caden, the finer points of playing T-ball, said his mother, Tina Rigsby.
The 23-year-old soldier loved sports and played baseball and football at Walker County High School.
Cpl. Parrish died Thursday in northern Iraq in a rocket-propelled grenade attack, Rigsby said. While the Department of Defense has not released an official account of the circumstances of his death, Rigsby said her son was on a reconnaissance mission to clear land mines that night.
Rigsby said her son, an Army medic, died from wounds suffered in the attack.
Cpl. Parrish trained many of the medics who assisted in his surgery after the attack, his mother said. "They said he gave a good fight."
Family members, including his wife, Ashley, were eagerly anticipating Cpl. Parrish's homecoming on July 15.
"He just had another week there," Rigsby said.
She said Cpl. Parrish was stationed at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri and recently had re-enlisted. He had been in Iraq 14 months, she said. Cpl. Parrish was going to be stationed in Columbus, Ga., after returning from Iraq.
A 2003 graduate of Walker County High, he had been in the Army three years.
He was into weightlifting, even winning some body-building competitions while in the Army, his mother said.
"He was very athletic," Rigsby said. "He couldn't wait to get home because this is his son's first year to play T-ball. "He was going to come home and tell him how to bat."
Rigsby said her son excelled at helping others.
"Dusty was the type of person who would make you laugh," she said. "He had an innate ability to make you happy when you were sad."
Rigsby said the family Friday afternoon was still trying to break the news to Caden.
"I hate that we have to tell his son," she said.
(SOURCE)
Please pray for this family and for all of the soldiers and families. It seems we've been forgotten now that this war has been ongoing for 6 years now but families are still being shattered by this damn war.
~~~~~~~UPDATE~~~~~~~~
Today I opened my email to find a comment from SPC Parrish's wife. It's heart wrenching to think of what she and her son as well as the everyone who's lives have been touched by this hero.
Here's what she wrote:
Ashley Parrish has left a new comment on your post "DoD Identifies Army Casualty SPC Charles D Parrish...":
My son and i would like to thank everyone for all the love and support during this very difficult time. Dusty is gone but never forgotten, he would want everyone to remember that he died for our freedom and he loved his job. I love him very much and see his face every time I look at our beautiful son. Rest in peace my husband for your mission on earth is complete I love you.
Ashley we'll continue to pray for you and your son and the rest of the family/friends who are suffering this loss. If there is anything any of us back here at the Fort can do for you please let me know. You can email me privately at kmtkbest@gmail.com and whatever you need I will do my best to help make happen.
~Till They All Come Home~
9 comments:
so heartbreaking... hope you are feeling better...hugs
I am friends with Cpl. Parrish's sister. I didn't know Dusty, but I know how much his sister loved him and will miss him!
Thanks for honoring his memory this way.
oh goodness!!!! They are all in my prayers... it makes me heartbroken everytime I hear a story like this as I have seen firsthand the pain and anguish this causes...and here we go in just a few months its my turn to watch and pray and pray Gods plan is to leave me my husband. My heart goes out to the family!
My son and i would like to thank everyone for all the love and support during this very difficult time. Dusty is gone but never forgotten, he would want everyone to remember that he died for our freedom and he loved his job. I love him very much and see his face everytime i look at our beautiful son. Rest in peace my husband for your mission on earth is complete I love you.
I found your site while googling Dustin. I met while in training and was heartbroken to hear of his death. He truely was a great example of what a soldier should be. Just being around him made you want to be a better person. Thanks for honoring him and reminding us all that we need to pray every day for all our soldiers fighting to keep us safe! Also, the families, your family and so many others who sacrafice your loved ones for months/years. Thank you! When a tragedy like this happens and people all over come together to lend their support, it also reminds me how proud I am to be an American and how much I love the US of A! RIP Dustin you will go on in our memories forever!
I am CPL Parrishs' Squad Leader during the incident. All I can say is that he was an amazing Soldier and an even better person. He will be sorely missed. I look forward to spend some time with his family on his birthday.
SSG Britton
I'm the mother of Charles Dustin Parrish and I would like to tell you a little about him. He had such a big heart and quick to find humor in everything. He only had three weeks left in his tour but had re-enlisted in April. He was planning on continuing his medical training at Ft Benning, AL. He was too young to die. He had just decided what he wanted to do with the rest of his life and was putting his plan into action. He planned on making up for lost time with his son when he returned home. He had been separated for three years and rarely got to spend time with Caden. This too was a tragedy because Caden could have had more memories of his father. I will make sure Caden knows his dad through us. Dusty left behind two sisters, two brothers, and parents that all miss him dearly. I have to tell you about his other family though. His army family. Dusty was killed June 4th and his birthday was August 21, we we're all dreading that day. Everyday was a living hell for us as it was and we did not know how we were going to get through his birthday. Thirteen of his army family drove from Missouri to Alabama to celebrate Dusty's birthday. They spent the whole weekend with us and I can not tell you how much that helped us. We made it through his birthday with the help of his other family. I will never forget those soldiers and what they did for our family. I got to meet the medic that held my son the last hours of his life. I am grateful for her for being there when I couldn't. He had someone holding him as he slipped away. As Christmas approached another feeling of dread hung over our heads. We are a close family and spent holidays together. Dusty's younger brother is only six so we had to try to celebrate Christmas for him. If not for that fact we would have let the holidays slide by and pretend they did not exist. Two days before Christmas Dusty's sgt offered to come spend the holidays with us. On christmas eve Sgt Brittion, his wife and their infant daughter drove from Missouri to Alabama and spent Christmas with us. I'm not sure if they know exactly how much that meant to us but they saved us. While the void in our hearts still existed they made it a tiny bit smaller by being able to add them in our hearts. I am forever grateful to all of Dusty's Army family. There is not a day that goes by that my son is not in my thoughts. I love and miss him dearly.
I didn't know SPC Parrish well, but spoke with him a few times. I was one of the Army Medics at Balad, Iraq Theater Hospital that helped take care of SPC Parrish. SPC Parrish and his family are always in our hearts, prayers, and thoughts. I will never forget him.
I didn't know SPC Parrish well, but talked to him on different occasions while at Balad, Iraq. I was one of the Army medics at Balad Theater Hospital that helped take care of SPC Parrish. SPC Parrish and his family are always in our thoughts. I will never forget him.
Post a Comment