Spc. Dustin Kendall
Last weekend Allan, my brother-in-law, found out that one of his best friends, Dustin Kendall, was killed in Iraq. Dustin went to college with Allan and they were roommates.
I didn’t know Dustin extremely well, but what I did know of him made a very good impression on me. Dustin was always smiling. He was a very funny guy that could always make you laugh, and he was a very likeable person that left you feeling positive.
Allan and Brad were interviewed by some local news stations the other day to talk about his life. After watching the news stories, I was very proud of Allan. Allan has always been a very loyal friend, and he should be very proud of how he was such a good friend to Dustin.
Let’s all join in by celebrating the sacrifice that Dustin made for our freedom and keep his friends & family in our prayers…
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The world would be a good place if there were more soldiers like Dustin Lee Kendall, but even better if there were more friends like him. He made an impact on all our lives, before ever setting foot in Iraq. He was a good friend who one day hoped to make a difference, and today is that day. Dustin is a true American Hero, the type we all wish to someday become. He made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom, and I am proud to have had the opportunity to serve on the same soil as this fine soldier. Allan, Brad, and Dustin were close friends and at times seemed inseperable. I pray for you, Allan and Brad, and the rest of Dustin’s loved ones, to have faith.
Dustin Kendall was a truly great friend. I met him in Colorado in September before he left for Iraq the short time that I knew him was all I needed to see how great a person he was, he always talked about his family and friends back home. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you and he is one person that will never be forgotten.
Dunstin and i grew up together in sulphur, La from when we were 12 till his family moved when we were 17. to know him, and to know how he lived was a blessing to me. to know that he died for our country makes me very proud to have known him. i’m sure he was a great soldier and now i know that he is in heaven with our savior.
Dustin was a great person and an even better friend. He always had a smile on his face and a kind word. He always was willing to help someone out or just be there if they needed him. Every Sunday I looked forward to seeing Dustin because I knew I could always count on seeing the smile on his face. When I would go and see my brother at work (he is currently in Iraq too) Dustin was there working but that same smile never left. The joy he brought to everyones life is beyond words but Dustin was fighting for what you believed and what many Americans believe. He was a great soldier but to many he was even more. My prayers are with everyone because I know how hard this is. He was a great soldier but an even better friend.
Dustin and I also grew up together in Sulphur, La. In fact the weekend before he moved, he spent the day eating home made pancakes and goofing around with my dad at my house. I remember him well and think about him often. Even then his description stands true. Always smiling and someone you could count on to make what seems like a terrible day a great one. My mom called him her second son. She said that after the first time she met him he was part of the family. That’s Dustin. He has a place in my heart and so many others lives that he has touched.
I played highschool footbal with him, and served with him. I’m almost two years older than Dustin, so obviously I joined before him. He was new in my reserve unit(489th engineers, bravo co.) when I returned from Iraq. From our previous connection, we instantly became freinds. We exchanged personal information, and we’d sit online playing Halo 2 for hours, with brad, herrherr, and some of his other friends. And boy I gave him a hard time cuz I was so much better at that game, I cannot begin to recount the times that we played both togather and face to face. I also remember one time when we rode to taco bell after drill, just talking about our own issues, in his souped up dodge truck( and belive me he was proud of that truck!) And again at AT in…well…Ft. bliss..White Sands…hell, whatever one may call it we were basically in the desert. ( I remember him having a profile because of his tooth, so he couldn’t do much military training.) But we would play flag football almost every night. Being biggest, and what I thought to be the meanest, I figured that If I had the ball I could run into or over the opposition. Well, damnit if dustin wouldn’t sqaure off against me! Man, I hated it too! Ole boy was so much smaller than me, but I’ll be damned if he did’nt hit me with all he had (and upon reflection, I will tell that yes it hurt). We almost came to “fisticuffs” over it, but being as that we were bunkmates, we thought better of it, and apologized to each other later on. Shortly after that he decided to go active duty with a couple of other guys that we were freinds with, it killed me but hell he was a grown man, and I could stop him ya know.
I sit here now regretting that I have just now found out about what has happened. I sit here still reflecting upon the past, laughing, and now crying of this loss. I hope that if Dustin’s parents read this, I want you to know that your my friend and your boy was a good man, especially at our age, and if he had to be he was as fierce as hell.
Sorrowfully,
Spc. J. Allen Edmonds
(smiley6798@aol.com
Dustin Kendall was my first best friend when I got out of High School. I was the manager @ the local Sonic Drive Inn. I hired him strictly because of his personality was explosive. He and I got really close and I also started going to Church with him and his family on a daily basis. He loved to drive my vehicles and I actually had to convince people that the cars were actually mine….he just wanted to impress the ladies… He would always make me laugh and smile even when i was upset with him. He is an inspiration to my life and I have learned alot from him. Dustin….I love you and can’t wait to see your beautiful smile once more!!
Nicki Burnworth
God Bless You Dustin! You Will Never Be Forgotten! I Did Not Get A Chance To Meet You But I Am Still Touched By Your Sacrifice. May You Rest In Peace Brother!
If anyone has any stories about the life and legacy of Cpl. Kendall please email me at:dewayne_standridge03@yahoo.com