Fallen Heroes of Operation Iraqi Freedom

"To the family of:Darin T. Settle
I am so sorry for the loss of your love one. My heart cries out for you in your grief and you have my thoughts and prayers. He died a hero defending freedom. May you have the peace and understanding that only comes from God. Prayerfully we will all meet in Heaven one day where we will rest in the arms of Jesus. If you need prayer or need someone to talk to, please call or write my pastor: Rev. John Pearrell 11677 Brown Bridge Rd., Covington, GA 30016. (770)787-1015.
Your friend in Jesus Christ, Polly Ballew Covington,Ga""

"Mr. BadAss till the end... I miss your Big Brother. Your sister and I was as close to sister as we could get with made you not only my cousin but also my big brother. I still remember hearing you werent coming home...I member being at the hospital when that BEAUTIFUL baby of yours was born and when they held the phone for WAGS to hear your voice he stopped crying because "Daddy was gonna make it all better"... you should see him now D. He's getting huge and so smart and a looker like you. Your family contines to have a rough time without you. And I hope they find a comfort someday. Your have two handsome nephews as well. We miss you so much Darin. Church ain't the same without you being there front and center to help out with whatever we need. We miss you... Keep Heaven safe until we all get there....Love Your-Sis-in-a-half"
Amanda Sue of Henley, MO

"April 20, 2009
To the family of Lance Cpl. Darin T. Settle:
Darin gave the ultimate sacrifice and will be held in the hearts of Americans forever. I cannot and will not let our fallen heroes be forgotten. My deepest sympathy to you. "Some gave all."
Peggy Childers
"Don't Let The Memory Of Them Drift Away"
www.IraqWarHeroes.org"
Peggy Childers of Carson City, NV

"My name is HM3 Medrano. It was my job to save Darin's life on that dreaded day. On that day the world lost a great man and father. In a world full of greed, hate and suffering... this man was the complete opposite of that. I did not know him as well as I should have but I did know this... he would have made a great father and would have been a great influence in making his son Wesley become a great person full of love thus making this world a greater place during a time in need of angels and hope. He was always the life of the party and made even the worst of days more bearable with his unshakeable spirit and smile. There is no doubt in my mind that he helped make this world a better place. To all his family and friends... I am sorry that I failed you.... please forgive me. The only comfort I have is knowing that atleast he is always watching over everyone from heaven ... and that I have no doubt of."
HM3 Medrano, Jose I. of Jacksonville, NC USA

"Dear Family of Darin Settle:

To honor the Missouri soldiers who have lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan and their families,the professional portrait artists of the Grateful Hearts Project are offering to paint a portrait of the individual soldier for his family.

These 16"x20" original portraits are being offered completely free of charge in recognition of the sacrificies made by these brave soldiers and in condolence for their families loss.

for information,email us at gratefulheartsproj@sbcglobal.net

sincerely;
The Artists of Grateful Hearts"
J.Gragg of Lee's Summit,Mo

"I MISS U LCPL DARIN SETTLE , SO DOES MAYNARD CLUBS, AND ALL YOUR FRIENDS MISS U TOO .I LOST MY MOM ON SEPT 30, 2007. I CRY EVERYDAY. SHE WAS MY BEST FRIEND ALSO. I PRAY GOD I SEE U ALL 1 DAY WHEN MY NUMBER IS UP WHEN WE GO TO HEAVEN TOO. TO BE WITH JESUS, ANGELS , HUGS TO YOUR SON AND FAMILIES, FRIENDS.U R MISS BY EVERYONE DARIN!!!! I LOOK @ YOUR PICTURES EVERYDAY.DARIN U ALL ARE MY HEROES, THANK U FOR SERVING IN THE MILITARY.( USMC SEMPERFI'S DEVILDOGS !"
DJ JAMMIN JOYCE of WARSAW, NORTH CAROLINA

"darin ...my nephew.. I couldn't save you this time. I love you."
Glen of Hickory Hill, Mo

"MR.& MRS. SETTLE
SON OF LANCE CORP.DARIN T. SETTLE
FROM: MRS.JOYCE A. ARNETTE
WARSAW, NORTH CAROLINA
DJJAMMIN20012002@YAHOO.COM
10-19-2006 MONDAY MORNING @ 10:19 AM EASTERN TIME

MY CONDOLENCES & SYMPATHY GOES OUT TO YOU BOTH AND DARIN SON AND HIS FAMILIES ,FRIENDS, AND HIS MARINE BUDDIES -N- HIS HOMETOWN!
PARENTS AND SON OF LCPL DARIN SETTLE.AND DARIN SON.
HE LOVED HIS JOB ,HE WAS VERY PROUD TO BE A MARINE. I AM SO GLAD THAT I GOT TO MEET HIM TO. AND TO KNOW DARIN.
HE WAS A GREAT AND FUNNY SEMPERFI DEVILDOG. HE LOVE TO LAUGH, DANCE, SIT ,HANG OUT @ MY TABLE ,WITH ME AND ALL OTHER GUYS FROM HIS UNIT HIS BUDDYS(HIS BROTHERS-N- SISTERS) FROM CAMPLEJEUENE. HE HUG MY NECK TOLD ME DJ WE R BACK HOME I WENT WOOHOO YEAH!!!!WELCOME HOME DARINNNNNNN,FIRST TIME HE CAME BACK FROM IRAQ, TOLD ME HE HAS TO GO BACK AGAIN, I WENT OH NOOOOO DARIN!! OMG NOOO, HE SAID HE HAS TO GO DO HIS JOB WHAT HE WANTED ! I AM SO PROUD OF THIS MAN LCPL SETTLE! HE SAW ME AT BAR GETTING ME MT.DEW. HE CAME RUNNING UP 2 ME HUG MY NECK. TILL THIS DAY I WILL NEVER FORGET LCPL DARIN SETTLE.{SON I ADOPTED, AND MY FRIEND)
& MY FALLEN HERO, MY DEVILDOG! HE WAS SO THRILL AND EXCITED WHEN HE TOLD ME HE WAS GOING TO BE A DADDY. SAW IT ON HERE HE HAD A SON !!! WAY TO GO DARIN!!! .DARIN PROMISE ME PICTURE OF HIM IN UNIFORM AND PICTURE OF HIS BABY TO ADD TO MY MILITARY PHOTO. I PRAY GOD THAT 1 DAY GOD WILL SEND ME PICTURES, THANK THE FAMILY OF LCPL DARIN T. SETTLE FOR HAVING A WELL MATTER SON VERY POLITE , HE SPOKEN TO EVERYONE HE MET @ MAYNARDS CLUB. LOVE TO SLOW DANCE HANG OUT WITH US. IN OUR CORNER CLOSE TO STAGE ,I CALL IT MY MILITARY CORNER FOR ALL BRANCH SERVICE, HE LOVE THE CORNER TABLE TOO !ABOUT EVERY SATURDAY NIGHT ,EXCEPT WHEN HE WENT HOME OR BACK TO IRAQ FOR 2ND TIME ! TOLD ME DJ U BETTER SAVE ME A DANCE WHEN WE ALL GET BACK, I TOLD HIM U GOT IT HURRY BACK BE CAREFUL BE SAFE U ALL IN MY PRAYERS -N- THOUGHTS!I PRAY EVERYDAY NIGHT FOR EVERYONE TO RETURN BACK HOME SAFE BE WITH FAMILIES AND FRIENDS. THEN RYAN SENT ME NEWS, HAVEN'T STOP CRYING AND MOURNIN' TRUE FRIENDS ,DARIN THANK YOU FOR BEING A GR8 GUY ! YOU WILL BE MISSED BY YOUR FAMILIES! YOUR SON ! YOUR LOVED ONES ,YOUR FRIEND , YOUR BUDDIES FROM BOOTCAMP AND CAMPLEJEUENE, AND ME OF COURSE ! YOUR 1 AND ONLY FAVORITE DJ JAMMIN' JOYCE & STEPHANIE U DANCE WITH (MY DAU) U HUG TOO ! PICK ON HER BOUT VIDEO ALL OF US ACTING NUTTY,LOL, SURE GOING TO MISSED U LOL WE ALL HAVE AND MEMORIES WILL LIVE ON EVERYTIME I GO TO MAYNARDS I HAVE THEM TO PLAYED OUR SONG FOR U AND ALL OTHER GUYS -N- DANCE WITH JOHN TOO HE WAS SO COOL WE ALL HAD FUN !-- GET BAND TO PLAYED ,WHEN I AM DJING I AM GOING TO PLAY IT TO !DRIFT AWAY BY UNCLE CRACKER LIGHT MY CANDLE OR MY CIG LIGHTER,I DON'T SMOKE . I KEEP CRYING STILL CAN'T BELEIVE YOU ARE GONE DARIN, HARD TO BELEIVE, GOD I AM GOING TO MISSED YOU DARIN, HOPE PRAY THAT WHEN MY TIME COME THAT WE WILL SEE YOU AGAIN AND REJOICE SAY WILD THEIR MY DEVILDOG DARIN,LOL,CHAT LOL BOUT GOOD OLD TIMES WE HAD PARTYING TOO ! MY HEART GOES OUT TO ALL OF U, DARIN REST IN PEACE U WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTON! CAN'T STOP CRYING WRITTING THIS LETTERS IT HURTS!! NEVER FORGET OUR OTHER VETERANS OF WAR POW,MIA AND FALLEN HEROES . I LOVED EVERYONE OF YOU MEN & WOMEN IN UNIFORM FOR GR8 JOBS YOU ALL DID AND DONE ,SOME GAVE ALL, ALL GAVE SOME !!!!!!!!
THANKS SEMPERFI USMC DEVILDOG ,ONCE U A MARINE YOU ALWAYS BE A MARINE , I KNOW YOU TOLD ME IT'S YOUR JOB,U LOVE IT !YOU WHERE VERY PROUD TO BE A MARINE! I TOLD YOU HOW MANY TIMES I HEARD THAT ONE ,YOU LOL SAID I AM VERY PROUD OF U DJ FOR SUPPORTING US WEARING MY RED, WHITE-N- BLUE COLORS! AND BEING A GR8 SUPPORTER& PATRIOT !!!
THANKS LCPL DARIN T/ SETTLE FOR GOTTON TO KNOW U CAME FRIENDS AND MY ADOPTED SON !
YOU WILL LIVE ON IN MY HEART AND MEMORIES ! DJ JAMMIN' JOYCE -N STEPHANIE-N- KIMBERLY , HOPE YOUR SON GROWN UP TO LOOK LIKE YOU AND TO BE AN MARINE TOO! ACTS LIKE YOU ! DJ- NORTH CAROLINA
MY BROTHER PASS AWAY ON APRIL 21 ST, SURE MISS HIM DEARLY HE WAS A CHRISTMAS BABY TOO GOT TO BE 27 YRS OLD . HARD ON ME NOW FOR MONTH OF APRIL! IT'S GOING TO BE HARD NOT TO SEE YOU WITH GUYS WHEN THEY COME BACK TO CLUB YOU NOT BEING WITH THEM ! YOU ARE IN ALL OF OUR HEARTS AND MEMORIES WIL LIVE ON FOREVER !
DJJAMMIN20012002@YAHOO.COM
PATRIOT ALL THE WAY! WE SUPPORT AND STAND BEHIND OUR MILITARYS!WE SUPPORT THEM ,THEY ALL NEED OUR PRAYERS ,BRING THEM ALLLLLLLL HOME !"
MRS.JOYCE A. ARNETTE of WARSAW, NORTH CAROLINA

"I can't think of what to say. All I can do is wipe away the tears, remember brad's words and say "Darin, I miss you". Never would I have thought that the past few years were it."
Cpl Frank Cortez III of Camp LeJeune, NC

"To the Family of Darin T. Settle, may you never be forgotten...our thoughts and prayers are with you and we know your pain as we lost our beloved son on 5/6/06, LCpl. Leon Deraps. Continued prayers are with you...God bless. Dale and Sandy Deraps"
Dale & Sandy Deraps of Jamestown, MO

"Settle, I was there in person the day you died. I called air support for you and tried my damndest to get you out of there fast enough. I have known you for a little over a year. Every time I think about the drunken nights we had. I laugh, and I remember how you talked about your family and your baby to come. I am still here doing the job I signed up for, but trust me friend. Not a day goes by when you don't cross my mind. I lvoe you man. And I will see you again some day. To the family of Darin, I was there the day the world stopped for Darin and I saw everything first hand and trust me Darin was probaably one of the most fun loving guys I have ever met and I will always remember him and so will my kids years down the road will know of Darin and what he stood for. Love Lcpl Joshua Blake Dale"
Lcpl Joshua Blake Dale of Camp Taqauddum, Iraq, Sylacauga, Alabama

"We Will NEVER FORGET !"
Please KNOW so many people share your sadness,
and we are remembering your family in your loss and your deep grief.
Our nations HERO, Darin will be remembered by name.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Pat & Sandi Breckenridge / Montana God Bless you ALWAYS. "

"Darin was my brother's best friend for about 5 or 6 years. He was probably the funniest and kindest person I have ever met. He always responded to my parents with "Yes, Sir" or "yes, ma'am" He always knew how to keep everyone smiling. Everytime he was at my house, he always made another great memory. I am very, very proud of him. I miss him everyday!!"
Beth of Eugene, Missouri, US

"Thank you Darin Settle, you will not be forgotten. Your bravery goes beyond words. I want to express my deepest gratitude for your sacrifice. To the family and friends, my prayers and deep condolences in your loss. May God strengthen you from knowing that fellow Americans and people around the world care about you and grieve with you in your loss. God bless you all. A very appreciative fellow American,"
Leo Titus of Grayslake, Illinios

"To the family and friends of Lance Cpl. Darin Settle:
May God's grace be with you during your time of grief. Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you and we feel your loss and share in your sorrow. Bless Darin for the sacrifice he has made to make a better life for the rest of us."
The Ford Family of Wells, Nevada

"To the family and friends of Lance Cpl. Darin Settle:
I am saddened by the loss of your loved one. He will always be remembered as a hero for fighting for freedom. I hope that this website will be a source of comfort and encouragement for you during this difficult time, and in the future as you recall the memories of Darin, who continues to live on in your heart."
Tim Rivera of Powder Springs, Georgia