Stryker Brigade News

I am saddened by the news of yet another loss of life. I'm so sorry for Darrell's family and pray to God for your comfort during this most difficult time. John 3:16 says "God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Our hope and belief as Christians is that we will be reunited with our loved ones after this life in a glorious home and body. Hold on.
a Stryker Mom

I am so very sorry for your loss of your soldier. May God bless and keep this family now and always.
Former Stryker Mom,
Ellen

Our sincere condolences to the family, friends and fellows soldiers of SFC Griffins, may God give you strengh and comfort in this day,and always. Thank you for your service and sacrifice for this country! Rest in peace hero in the presence of God.

Diana I thought maybe this would be something to help you in just the smallest of ways when you think of him.... Of all the people I've ever met. You're the one I won't forget. And if I die Before you do I'll go to heaven and wait for you I'll give the angels back their wings and risk the loss of everything just to prove my love is true.

My heart and prayers go out to SSG Griffin's family, friends and fellow soldiers. You are a hero that will never be forgotten. SSG Griffin came from my neck of the woods. If anyone has information of services in this area I would like to honor this brave soldier by attending.
Sincerely,
Joes' Stryker Mom
Linda

I will be praying for you. I'am very sorry for the loss of your Soldier. His life was given in Honor and Compassion for His Fellow Soldiers and for this Countries Continued Freedom. He will always be in my heart. God Bless and Keep You.
Sincerely,
Mitchell's Stryker Mom
Karen

SSG Griffin was my fiance's cousin. They were very close growing up. We knew him as "Skipper" or "cousin Skip." I met him at a family reunion in November 2005 before he was deployed for his second tour in Iraq. His patriotism, courage, and loyalty were tremendously inspiring. For those of you who never knew him personally, you should know that he was one of the most intellectually brilliant people I ever met. He was wise beyond his years. He shared amazing stories, and we had great conversations. I figured since my wife and I would be together forever, Skipper and I would be friends forever. I looked forward to him coming home so we could have more great conversations at future family reunions, holidays, and gatherings. So when we got word last week that he had been killed, what broke my heart about losing him were all of the conversations we would never get to have. All the stories he'd never get to tell. All the laughs we'd never hear. It took a couple days to get over this initial pain. Then I found his blog online. I already knew Skipper was quite the philosopher, and on his blog he made reference to the "Great Conversation." The Great Conversation is the name given to the exchange of ideas that has been going on for thousands of years. The ideas have to do with God, our world, relationships, truth, knowledge, existence, hope, dispair, purpose - in short, who we are and why we live. It was at that point a small sense of peace came over me. I realized that if he were here, I think he would tell me not to despair because we will see each other again someday. He would tell me his life here on Earth had a noble, honorable purpose, and he still exists in the hearts and memories of those who knew and loved him. "Have faith," he would say, "We will still get to have all those great conversations." So for all of you who have suffered a terrible loss like our family has, remember... we will all be reunited someday.

My son, Sft. Gary Robinson, had the honor to serve with Staff Sgt. Griffin during his first tour to Iraq in 2004/05. My son has since considered Staff Sgt Griffin his "best friend" and "brother." There is a bond there that will never be forgotten - in this life or the next. We are devastated and sorry for your loss. The world has lost a true dedicated soldier and friend to all who knew him.

Carol Glatfelter

Thank you for the words of encouragement. An article was published about him in the Washington Times yesterday:

http://www.washtimes.com/world/20070327-121437-4781r.htm

He will be badly missed.

Darrell Ray Griffin, Jr. was my son. I had the pleasure of raising Darrell "Skip" as his father and knowing him for 36 years. He is missed by me, his mom (Kim), his wife, Diana, his brothers, sisters, cousins, aunts, uncles and the the other members of his family. A father could not ask for a better son. He loved the Army. He felt what we were doing for the Iraqi people was the right thing to be doing. I am saddened, by the current debates going on in congress to cut-off the funds for our troops and to give a definite timetable for our troops to leave Iraq. This does not seem appropriate.

I miss getting Skip's calls from Iraq. Of late his calls centered on how he understood and loved the Iraqi people. Alex Kingsbury (U.S. News and World Report reporter) and I will be be completing the book that Skip and I had been discussing and working on for over a year. Skip was a hero as are all of our men and women in uniform. The book will tell the story of true American heroes like Skip and his comrades. Anyone that served with Skip in either of his tours in Iraq please contact me at dgkimina at yahoo.com. God, thank you for the gift of Darrell "Skip" as my son.

There is a website with a video interveiw of Darrell at http://usnews.feedroom.com/?fr_story=1d785dc14b0c14ee73848e0e42707c02240b0edb&rf=bm

He did a 26 minute interview and it is ontheir website.

griffin was one of the most amazing people i've ever met in my life....he was so friendly and took care about all of his friends....his points of view and his ideas about life...god...etc made me speechless in more than one occasion...i worked with him in his last few months of his life...i will miss him forever.

Not a day goes by where i don't miss you brother.

My Heart and Prayers goes out to SSG Griffin's family. I am proud to say that I fought alongside with this brave soldier while assigned to A.co 1/5 INF. I was transferred to Apache company in Tall A'ffar Iraq and it was there that I met Griff. We had some great times together. He was a great squad leader and always took care of his squad.
Staff Sergeant Griffin, you will surely be missed and never forgotten.