Fallen Heroes of Operation Iraqi Freedom

"I am going to come and visit where you grew up this weekend. Never Above You, Never Below You, Always Beside You."
Glenn of San Diego Ca

"I think about you daily Brother."
Glenn of San Diego Ca

"My life seemed a mess and I couldn't get away from the traffic, noise, and find any peace of mind that I dearly needed...I drove into a no trespass/boy scout campground only and made my way to the furthest recess and found the greenery and silence to be precisely what I needed...I then came across the memorial for David and the bridge he built as an Eagle Scout and my entire life seemed shallow and a pity for not being anywhere as great as this young man. To be so overwhelmed with a sense of purpose after being so lost , I'm truely humbled and honored because I had no prior real respect for armed services in this day and age, and I tossed aside all my notions and truly was blessed to see such honor of his friends and compadres; I had thought at first and said out loud, he died for nothing. A hawk in a tree screamed down at me and flew off, and I literally felt such awe and reverence that I had to know more about him. I am going to return there many times as tribute but more so, turn my life around. Thank you David."
W of doesn't matter

"Joe and GLoria, I lost your address but have not forgotten about you and Dave. He was my son's roommate in Okinawa. We think of Dave often and will never forget him and his sacrfice.God bless."
Nancy Leavitt of Savannah, GA

"To the family of:David M.Caruso
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""

"Dave,

It has been seven years since your death. There isn't a day that goes by that you aren't in my thoughts and Prayers. I hope you are 'Oscar Mike' wherever you are...Bloomer"
E5Bloomer of DC

"Family of Dave,

I got to see Dave for the last time during this life, in Iraq, a few days before he was taken away from us. I had the honor of serving with him. As i am sure you have heard, he was and always will be remembered as a hardened warrior, true recon Marine. His humble attitude and quiet demeanor has affected me greatly and I cant say enough good things about him. I would gladly lay down my life for him, had i the chance. At that time, we were in different units in Iraq but i will always remember the time i had with him and his patriotism.
jonnyringobfmc@gmail.com

god bless you all
Dave is watching over us from up above, of that i am sure."
JD WHITE GySgt USMC of San Diego CA

"Dave,

Your are the epitome of a Recon Marine, tough as nails, heart of a lion, and endurance with no end. Former team mate at 3rd Recon BN. You will always be remembered by me. Your example will never be forgotten and your sacrifice will not be in vain. See you in Vallhalla brother.

GySgt White JD
Your brother till the end.
I know your spirit lives on forever."
JD WHITE of San Diego CA

"I will ALWAYS love you!!"
Arline Vazquez of J-ville, NC ,US

"To SGT Caruso,
it is with great honor to carry your name with me as i am about to embark on my first deployment. I serve with bravo company 8/9th Battlion i hope i can bring secruity to my country as you have done for yours.. god bless you Sgt"
Pte Luke Caruso of Brisbane Qld Australia

"Dave, I remember the days of playing football together at Waubonsie Valley. We all miss you and thank you for keeping our country safe."
Brett of Austin Texas

"Dave.....
I wish I had found this site long ago. I married one of your best friend and sadly never had the chance to meet you. My husband speaks of you often and misses you terribly. He felt that while he was over in Iraq serving you were there watching over him. He came home and spoke of a constant presences he felt with him with "stuff would go down". If it was you thank you. Josh is preparing for a 2nd rotation to the sand box and is headed to dangerous territory. Please watch over him again. I had the pleasure of meeting your parents and I stay in contact with them all the time. We pray for you always and for your family. Josh misses you always!"
Katie Randall of Ashburn, VA/USA

"May 25, 2008
To the family of Sgt. David M. Caruso:
David 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

"RIP GOD BLESS"
JOHN of CHICAGO

"David, ( Tank)
Hey brother..I am heart brocken to hear that you have moved on to a better a place. I had the honor of becoming a marine along side of you by induring those wonderfull 12 weeks in bootcamp. You always had a smile and a gentle heart. you will never be forgotten!"
Lcpl Enrique Guzman of chicago, Illinois

"Sgt Caruso,
I knew you for a short time in Iraq. You and your cohorts were such dear pains in my butt. Your pranks, amusing stories and very presence are missed. I'll never forget scolding the bunch of you for trying to convince me that a radio charger is a "sensitive piece of equipment," and how hard we all laughed. RIP"
Linda Williams of Houston, TX

"Dear Dave,

Our time together was short, but it left an indelible impression on my memory. Remember when Josh, you and I flew to the islands? I was hard-headed; and I still am. I'll tell you . . . I think of you often, and I know you are a true hero. I saw your girlfriend in LeJeune when I was stationed there, and it was tough. I want you to know, that you will always be remembered; you will always be missed; I will never forget you. You can count on me every Memorial Day. I'll see you there. God Bless. Stephen D'Alessio"
Stephen D'Alessio of Clermont, Fla./USA

"Dave,

Well what to say except you are missed, a lot. I know we were not too close, but I still miss you so much, and a tear comes to my eye every time I think about you. I talk to Arline often, and she misses you so much. I know you are doing better in the place you are now, I am sure its a lot better than here! I miss you, and I am so glad I met you in Okinawa! I miss you man! Love ya"
Kelly Swiderski (Ski) of Elizabethton Tennessee

"Dave,
I often think about you and childhood memories we shared in the past. Words cannot describe how lucky I am to have known you; or how deeply indebted we are to you and your family for such a costly sacrifice. Thank you for your service to our country, miss you always."
Anthony of Naperville, IL

"My name is Cameron Schilling and I have started “Portrait of a Soldier” which donates a portrait sketch of every Illinois soldier who has fallen in Iraq or Afghanistan. All 122 sketches will be on display for a Memorial Day Presentation in Chicago, Illinois on May 26-31 at the James R. Thompson Center in downtown Chicago. After the ceremony the sketches will be given to the immediate families of the Illinois soldiers. I would invite any friends or family members to come and honor these men and women from Illinois who have given their lives to our country. For more information please contact OperationHomeFront.org at 866-417-8889 which is an organization headed by the Lt. Governor Pat Quinn of Illinois who is in charge of the Memorial Day Presentation. Thank You.

Please check out www.portraitofasoldier.org
To contact Cameron email cameronschilling84@hotmail.com
To contact Operation Home Front call 866-417-8889"
Cameron Schilling of Charleston, Illinois

"Dave,
I had the distinct pleasure of serving with you on the 31st MEU. You were a good friend and a motivating partner to lift with late at night while on deployment. I recall some great times in Australia, the Philippines and Thailand with you. I hope this country knows how much of a loss it has sustained in your death. Thank you for your sacrifice and that of your family. It was an honor to call you comrade and friend. You will be missed and your memory lives on here. God Bless you, wherever you may be. Take care."
John Blomstrom of Washington, DC

"I wore David's name during a vigil on 10/29/05 to honor the 2,012 (to date) service members killed in Iraq. I looked up his name when I got home and found that he was a Marine. My mother was a Marine during WWII and she helped me make over 400 of the 2,012 name tags for the vigil.
She remembers so many of her fellow Marines killed during WWII so making the tags for this war's dead was a labor of love. She and I both send our condolences to David's family and friends, as we continue to pray for peace and fervently seek an end to this war."
Debby Pattin & Virginia Little (USMC, WWII vet) of Olympia, WA

"Thinking of you especially during this time...Happy Birthday!!"
Heather of Mississippi

"Happy Birthday big guy, still thinking about you."
Aaron of Chicago, IL

"ANOTHER DAY... Thinking of you DAVE.

After what I see and experience every day in this place (Iraq)...the inspiration of who you are is what keeps me sane. You will always be "my weirdo"...TE AMO DAVE!...FOREVER..."
ARLINE of Puerto Rico

"To the Family of Sgt. Caruso:
We have constructed a memorial to the service men and women from Wisconsin and Illinois who have died in Iraq which includes, as of 7/12/05, 112 crosses and Stars of David. We would like your permission to put David's name on one of them.
We have called our display "Arlington Midwest" and it is located in Wisconsin Dells, WI.
It is our expression of mourning for the indescribable loss you have suffered for our country.

If you would like us to do this, please email me at ArlingtonMidwest@yahoo.com.

We invite you to visit Arlington Midwest. I can send you directions and some pictures by email.

"As long as we live, they too will live;
for they are now a part of us,
as we remember them."
Marty Preston of Wisconsin Dells, WI

"I've been your friend since we were 5 and I'll never forget you."
Bryan Ross of Naperville,IL

"Dave, you will never be forgotten. You were a true silent professional and friend. It was an honor to serve with you. My condolences to the Caruso family for their loss. Semper Fidelis"
Tom Lee of Tuscaloosa, Alabama

"i never met sgt. caruso but i began running a few months ago in the green valley forest preserve. i stumbled apon his memorial. it has been an inspiration to me always
God bless and keep him and his family."
brian coleman of woodridge il. usa

"David, I didnt know you that well but we were at Little Creek for a little while together. You set a great example as Marine and an American. Thank you for your service."
CDK of Florida

"Everybody who knew dave knew how incredible he was. I had only met him a few times and I learned how much he had accomplished in such a short time. He loved what he did, and died a hero doing it. An inspiration for me and for all people to try and achieve everything that they can and reach for their goals. Somebody I will never forget. We all miss your soldier! at ease."
j. d of chicago, il

"Just thinking about you again Dave, as everday. I miss you buddy."
Aaron Cook of Oakland, CA

"TO THE FAMILY AND FREINDS OF CARUSO, I KNEW HIM PERSONALLY HE WAS AS NOBLE AS ANY MAN IVE KNOWN COURTEOUS AND POLITE GENTLE IN NATURE A TRUE PROFESSIONAL OPERATOR, more needs to be said than I am worthy of saying the world was a better place with him in it."
SGT. Moore of moorershawn1@hotmail.com

"Sergeant Caruso, goodbye soldier and thank you. You are my hero."
Bill of Houston, Texas

"Dave-

Or simply Sergeant Caruso, as I knew you a year ago- just the other day, I ran into someone I thought might have served with you when you were in Okinawa. When I mentioned your name, his face lit up. He said, "Oh yeah- Dave! He's a great guy. Really BIG! Kind of quiet though. We hung out quite a bit." Then, I had to tell him, "Sgt Caruso was killed last week." The sadness in his eyes reaffirmed a belief of mine. While I only saw you a few times over the course of my deployment, I could see that you left an indelible legacy on those you came into contact with. God bless you. I hope that in death, you've found some measure of peace that many of us never do in this world. You war is done. Be with you brothers who are still fighting. I pray that your family will find a sense of peace as well. Godspeed."
Cpl Darryn E Remillard of Hawaii

"To David's Family and Friends:

On behalf of the Blanco-Caldas family, we send our sincerest condolences. We share the same loss ... the same pain. Our prayers are with you in this most difficult time and we thank you for your soldier's bravery and sacrifice.

Sincerely,

The Family of Capt. Ernesto M. Blanco-Caldas, 82nd Airborne
KIA Iraq 12/28/2003.
Gloria Caldas (The Big Ern's Mom) of San Antonio, TX
gloria.caldas@banksterling.com"

"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. Your HERO, David, will be remembered by name. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. God Bless you ALWAYS. Pat & Sandi Breckenridge from Montana "

"To David's Family:
There are no words to express the sorrow we feel for your loss. May God bless you and help you through this time."
Dan and Meg Manninen of San Antonio, Texas

"To the family and friends of Sgt. David M. Caruso,

Those we hold most dear, never truly leave us. May you find comfort in love's everlasting connection.

In the Support section of this web site you will find links to many groups that support you at this crucial time. The Marine Comfort Quilt group would be honored to send a quilt to the next of kin. There are many, loving and caring Americans from all over the United States that will never forget the sacrifice that your loved one has made for our Freedom. Please register so we can send you our "Love Stitched Together."

Proud Marine Mom and Proud Member of Marine Comfort Quilts"
Sandra Moudy of Placentia, Ca

"Thank you David Caruso, 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 Sgt. David Caruso:
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 David 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 Sgt. David Caruso:
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 David, who continues to live on in your heart."
Tim Rivera of Powder Springs, Georgia