Dustin’s Rank Confirmation
This is Judy Donica’s March 21, 2007 e-mail to the 3/509th families telling them of the process they were going through. Dustin was KIA on December 28, 2006 and the Donicas didn’t receive official word of his new rank until March 2007 so that they could finalize the order for his grave marker and have it set in Texas – they had waited for the confirmation.
“Well, today we finally got confirmation of Dustin’s rank. He had been promoted to Cpl. in the field and the night of his death they finished all the paperwork. When you go to the DOD site now and go to archives, Dec. 31, 2006, it shows Dustin as a Cpl.
(Dustin’s website has now been updated, too. See photo in the Gallery)
We may be going to BAMC on April 3rd to see Logan and Jan Curtis and meet Captain Arntson from AK. He called 2 days ago and asked if it would be possible for us to meet him there.
Today I sent off a package for the guys in Iraq - Easter candy and camouflage Easter eggs. They’ll think I’m crazy. (Note: They will love it, Judy!)
Dustin’s car from Alaska is scheduled to arrive in Houston on Friday. The rest of his personal gear from his public storage unit in Alaska will arrive approximately April 15th.
Yesterday a box was delivered Fed Ex, and inside was a “Marine quilt.” A group of Marine mom’s sew a memorial quilt for each fallen military member. People have been so kind and caring.”
Love, Judy
Klein Memorial Park near Houston, Texas
