Cpl. Dustin R. Donica

Posted Memorial Day 2008

Tiede, Matthews, The Daleys, Shoemaker, Hoying, Herbert and Kinney

“When I arrived in Anchorage, AK on May 15, 2008, a wonderful group of soldiers with Shawna and Nora  Daley met me at the airport. Dustin couldn’t have chosen nicer, more caring friends. I wish I had thought to have them turn around and take the picture looking into the airport instead of taking it into the sun/plate glass windows…the  outside lighting faked out the flash on the camera. With the group surprising me, you’re lucky I even thought to take a few pictures. That was Emotional Moment No. 1 of the weekend.

The next group of pictures are from the restaurant where we stopped to eat. They should  be thankful I’m not sending you the pictures of them with their balloon animals for you to post! As tough as it was, I’m glad that I went to the Dedication and got to spend time talking to them and getting to know Dustin’s AK Army friends. As promised, I gave them all an extra hug.  Hearing that Shoey was supposed to have guard duty that weekend, I transferred 10-12 hours of Ninja Turtle cartoons to DVD for him. He ended up getting his duty switched so I got to enjoy his company on Sunday, too. I hope he enjoys the DVDs at his convenience. They were favorites of Dustin.

(Click on all of the images on this post to enlarge.)

Last minute on Friday, Peter had to report to duty so Jimmy Daley was my escort for the ceremony instead of Shoey. The next pictures are from the hallway of the Able Co. Offices. Captain Gregory of Able Co. told us that they would be displayed for as long as there is an Able Co. in AK. I took that to mean forever.

Geronimos - All The Way! 

3/509th Able Company Flag

CPL Dustin R. Donica

SSG Henry W. Linck - Dustin’s squad leader in Iraq.

CPL Toby R. Olsen, right - KIA January 2007

Toby was one of Dustin’s terrific Able Company friends.

SSG Henry Linck, SGT Micah Gifford and CPL Dustin Donica were all from the same squad.

Those three Able Company soldiers were KIA supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom, December 2006  .

The final set of pictures are from the ceremony. There was a wall off to the side with each of the Fallen Hero’s picture, profile, and dog tags. Shawna Daley took the pictures of the ceremony for me. Ironically, from the angle Shawna took the pictures, my reflection is on the side of the monument with the names (at the bottom). Shawna also took a picture of me placing the flower that was given to me at the base of the monument. We went back the next day to take close-up pictures without the crowds.

Wall of Fallen Heroes at Memorial Dedication, Pershing Field.

CPL Dustin Ross Donica, KIA December 28, 2006

Kharmah, Iraq - Operation Iraqi Freedom

Nora Daley looks at Memorial Dedication program 

Fort Richardson, AK - May 16, 2008.

Judy Donica, seated center in black.

The Paratroopers of The Spartan Brigade

Color guard with campaign ribbons.

AIRBORNE

25TH INFANTRY DIVISION ASSN.

25th INFANTRY DIVISION MEMORIAL FUND

Click on image to view Judy’s reflection on the monument.

Judy places a flower at the monument.

Judy touches the name of her fallen son.

Click on image to enlarge the words of Abraham Lincoln’s prayer.

On Sunday, Shawna and Jimmy graciously opened their home up to any of Dustin’s friends that were available. I was able to meet those I hadn’t previously met. From the 30 or 40 that came over I knew that Dustin was surrounded by many that loved him and considered him a close friend. For that, I will be forever grateful. There is a special bond among the squad, platoon, and Able company that will never be broken. They are an extraordinary group of men. I took 13 of Dustin’s favorite caramel apples with me and they were enjoyed by his friends on Sunday at Daley’s house. I hope everytime they see or enjoy a caramel apple  (among other things) they will remember Dustin. 

NOTE:  Peter Shoemaker says, “Those are REALLY good apples.”  They were as good as he remembered from when Judy would send caramel apples to AK for Dustin before his deployment to Iraq.

TO OUR FALLEN WARRIORS

I stopped counting Emotional Moments after the first one because I knew there would be too many to count and I was right. So, I just took a deep breath and continued forward.”

Love,
Judy

All Gave Some - Some Gave All.