A Fallen Soldier's E-mails to Home
Editor's Note: Below is a selection of E-mails between Army Staff Sgt. Darrell Griffin Jr. (whose family called him "Skip") and his father, Darrell Griffin Sr. They were sent during his two deployments to Iraq from late 2004 until his death in March 2007. These E-mails were given to U.S. News by Darrell Griffin Sr. Some spelling and syntax have been corrected for clarity and noted with brackets.
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From: Darrell Griffin, Jr.
Sent: Thursday, November 11, 2004 6:57 AM
To: Darrell (DAD) Griffin
Subject: your son
Dearest Mom and Dad,
I have been so busy lately and am sorry that I have not been writing as often. I went on my first combat patrol on foot today through the heart of downtown Tal Afar. There were people everywhere and you just don't know where the next bullet is going to come from. The insurgents from Falujah are expected to come here to Tal Afar so we have made our dominance known throughout the city just waiting for someone to pick a fight with us. The city is predominantly Shi'ia Muslim so the people are very jittery about our presence there. We do not know whose side the people will take when given the opportunity. Many police uniforms have been stolen from Mosul so we had to be skeptical when linking up with Iraqi police today. It will be like this for awhile until we can somewhat identify who's who. Last night we were over watching a checkpoint when gunfire erupted about 400 meters from where we were positioned. Another Stryker that went to investigate received small arms fire so we went down to plus them up in order to pull back due to limited night visibility. Yes we do have night vision but it depends on ambient or available light that our [night vision goggles] have available. We are tasked to hold Tal Afar at all costs; that is our company mission as of right now. We are expecting insurgent forces to make an incursion into this city and have been receiving strong indicators that it has begun. Well, that's the [news] for my corner of the pie. I love you guys dearly and have not been receiving your packages as of yet. But mail tends to be sporadic so I will continue to be on the lookout for it. I am going to call you guys right now. I love you.
Your faithful son,
Skipper
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From: Darrell Griffin, Sr.
Sent: Thursday, November 11, 2004 9:19 AM
To: Darrell Griffin, Jr.
Subject: RE: your son
Son keep safe. We have been writing every day and sending the letters once a week. I hope you start getting them soon. We have also sent two packages to you so far. It appears that the Coalition kicked butt in Fallujah but as you said a big percentage of the bad guys ran to fight another day.
Carie from my office wants to know if any of your guys don't have people writing them or sending them packages. If you have guys like this she would like to know about them and write to them and send them packages.
We love you son.
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From: Darrell Griffin, Jr.
Sent: Monday, December 13, 2004 7:15 AM
To: Darrell (DAD) Griffin
Subject: your son checkin' in
Dear Mom and Dad,
My squad was responsible for finding the biggest weapons cache in all of our Brigades' [area of operations]. We cordon & searched an auto-shop and found a fully fabricated IED w/ approx. 25 lbs. of C4 [explosives] attached to it, Anti-tank mines with walkie-talkie triggering devices, 5 [rocket-propelled grenades] rounds and ledgers recording the names of suppliers of these types of materials. The man we detained in this auto-yard is a chief bomb maker in Tal afar. Yesterday while at the castle, we took heavy small arms fire for about an hour. An IED went off at around 9PM to our north from the castle about 400 m. away and hit some guys I know. It hit their Stryker. There were substantial injuries and we were hit again at the castle soon after the IED went off to our north. We received heavy small-arms fire from below (the castle sits on a steep hill) and we returned fire in the general direction. Things are pretty intense here right now. I'm glad however that my squad and I found all those bomb making explosive materials. An Anti-Tank mine can vaporize any soft-skinned military vehicles and is probably what hit that Stryker. When that Stryker came to a stop, they discovered another IED next to it that did not detonate. Its purpose was to kill troops on the ground once they dismount to execute recovery procedures.
Please keep praying for my squad because we are the only Stryker and only squad that has not been hit with an IED. I had a hard time believing in the miraculous as pertaining to prayer, but it seems as if catastrophe is just out of our reach. We have been doing the killing and not the opposite. Tell your precious friends that I received their care-packages and so appreciate their care and concern. I don't have the names with me but they sent me a lot of CD's and candy. The music is beautiful. I received your letter and enjoy so much how you use the narrative as a letter. Please continue to write in this manner. I can't stress enough how I feel and truly believe that your prayers are having a weird effect on me and my men. It is very uncanny how we are so brave and always seem to be just out of reach of things that can kill us or injure us. However, we have had to experience killing others and this is something that will haunt me for the rest of my life. I love you guys so much and truly feel your love for me as your son. I count the days when we can all see each other again and look back on this time, this year. I love you all.
Your son,
Skipper
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From: Darrell Griffin, Sr.
Sent: Monday, December 13, 2004 9:41 AM
To: Darrell Griffin, Jr.
Subject: RE: your son checkin' in
Hi Son
Sounds like you guys are seeing a lot of activity. The bomb [maker] you guys got is nothing more than a common criminal, a murderer, an animal. I am so glad [that] you have the professionalism that you have. If I were to find a guy like him, I would want to choke him until his eyes pop out.
Is it starting to get cold there now? I understand that the winters can be as harsh as the summers are. How are your young guys doing? Thank God for your maturity. I am sure that they look to you for guidance and knowledge.
We have been talking to Diana [Darrell Griffin Jr.'s wife] every day. She seems to be doing well, but we can tell that she really misses you a lot. I have a friend that just came back from IRAN and he told me that he [was] shocked at how much the common IRANIAN likes America. He said that the "religious nuts" and government people do not like [America] but the man in the street really likes us.
We love you and pray for you daily.
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From: Darrell Griffin, Jr.
Sent: Sunday, December 19, 2004 6:38 PM
To: Darrell (DAD) Griffin
Subject: Your son
Dear Mom and Dad,
Things are hectic here right now. We are defending an old castle that seems to be a magnet for heavy small arms fire. Rounds strike our part of the castle daily and we return heavy fire in the direction that it came from. The insurgents here in Tal Afar know that within these castle walls stands the last police station in this city and they are trying desperately to destroy it. We are in firefights daily at this castle and it seems so dream-like when you hear the snapping of rounds as they break the sound barrier above your head. 60 people were killed in Mosul by a car bomb that targeted a military convoy that's all I know for right now. Things are getting thick over here so keep us in prayer ok? It was expected due to the close proximity in time concerning Iraq's elections which I think will be a total failure. If we start guarding polling stations that will not be good.
Well I must go for now. I will try my best to keep you updated on the situation here. I love you guys so much!
Lil'
Skip
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From: Darrell Griffin, Jr.
Sent: Monday, January 03, 2005 7:04 AM
To: Darrell (DAD) Griffin
Subject: bad day, skipper
We heard news that an Iraqi cop's son was beheaded and his body left on the street in Tal Afar. We took some Iraqi cops to the scene and did in fact see a headless body with the head carefully stacked on top of the chest with the body lying flat on the ground. The police officers (3) went up to the body to identify it while security was maintained for them by us. Before they got within 8 ft. of the body, the body exploded and killed one while injuring severely the others. Body parts went flying everywhere like a nose, jawbone, top of skull, eyeball and lower torso. Flesh was completely blown off the bones. We took the torso back to the castle where we have been for awhile and had to unzip the body bag so that other family members could identify the lower half by the shoes he was wearing. Later in the day, the Iraqi police who were family members of the destroyed body began to drink heavily and one of them ... started shooting randomly into the crowded traffic circle below the castle. We watched as he killed a 17 yr. old girl, a 7 yr. old girl and a 28 yr. old male. We could not intervene as this was happening for very complex reasons. This has been one of the most horrific days of my entire 34 yrs. of living on this earth. Flesh flying everywhere, and senseless violence ruled the day today. I am stupefied and stand in tragic awe in the face of this carnage, what could I possibly say? Where was God today? One of my soldiers ... was deeply affected by today's events. These images brought back many painful and macabre memories of what I used to do as an [emergency medical technician]. I had to talk to my squad to see where their heads and hearts were.
Well, I must go for now because I need to sleep. I love you guys and really need your prayers and so do my men. May God give us the strength in the face of such senselessness.
Skipper
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From: Darrell Griffin, Sr.
Sent: Monday, January 03, 2005 11:27 AM
To: Darrell Griffin, Jr.
Subject: RE: bad day, skipper
Son we love you very much. God gave us minds and we are allowed to doubt.
The only explanation that satisfies me when I ask myself where is God today are the following:
1. C. S. Lewis (from the book that You and Diana got me for Christmas) said that early man felt he was on trial before God and modern man feels that God is on trial before him. We now live [in] a society/world where we always question God. This is not a bad thing, but our acceptance of the ability to question God's judgement does add significant complexity to our relationship with him.
2. When I think of my love for Mom and her love for me, I understand my relationship with God. I would not want the love of Mom if I forced her to love me. When her love is given freely to me, it is a gift that is just beneath the gifts [of] our Lord, but far above any imaginable earthly pleasures. Our relationship with God is similar. He loves us so much that he stays out of our (the people of this planet) way and lets us go on our way, be it good or bad. Unfortunately, man has a way of constantly screwing things up and constantly coming back for forgiveness from God.
There was a story of an American in Asia that was caught up in the Tsunami that killed over 150,000 people last week. He said that as he clung to a tree for survival for 8 hours, he talked to God for the first time in 10 years.
You are seeing things that no man or woman should ever have to see. You have a strong relationship with God. God will see you through this ordeal.
He has great plans for you, which may not be in the Army, or may be in the Army. As I have told you on a number of occasions, once you let me know which direction (the Army or no-Army) I will deploy whatever resources I have to help you in the direction that you and Diana choose.
We love you and as always we pray for you, [your] men and Diana daily.
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From: Darrell Griffin, Jr.
Sent: Saturday, January 08, 2005 5:28 AM
To: Darrell (DAD) Griffin
Subject: Skipper checkin' in
How are you all? Hopefully this e-mail finds you guys doing well. As I write, I can hear the 21 gun salute firing for the soldier that was killed right in front of me. I forgot that the memorial service was today and it made me jump right out of my seat! Well, it was a quiet 24 hr. rotation at the castle in Tall'Afar. That is what we have been doing for awhile. We will go on missions outside of the castle such as raids, cordon/searches, cordon/knocks, and route interdictions. If not on these missions, we guard this old castle along with Iraqi police that are too scared to do their jobs. We called in an air strike yesterday with AH-64 Apaches that decimated a suspected insurgent meeting place. We had the privilege of sitting back and watching the fireworks. I wanted to enter and clear this building to find any valuable intelligence but higher would not let us. There is a growing trend where we get anonymous tips concerning possible locations where insurgents live: we show up and nothing is found, not even people living in the target house. We found out that in Mosul, this same thing is done and Iraqi cops rush into target houses just to get blown up once inside so we have to really scrutinize these so-called anonymous tips because we kick in a lot of doors with me leading my squad into these target establishments. Well, I gotta go for now. I love you guys and truly covet your prayers and do not take them for granted!
Your son,
Skipper
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From: Darrell Griffin, Jr.
Sent: Monday, February 28, 2005 10:14 PM
To: Darrell (DAD) Griffin
Subject: Hey Mom and Dad
Dear Mom and Dad,
How are you all doing? I received your package with the camera and was so happy. Everything was intact and not damaged. I like the book "Servants of Nature" that you sent and can't wait to read it. Well, my Stryker is out of commission because we finally got hit by a large roadside bomb 2 days ago. It was a gas-bomb that develops a fireball around the entire vehicle when detonated. All of our tires were blown out and all the tie rods were destroyed. Not one of my squad members was hurt. The next day, as we were convoying down a road our other 2nd squad vehicle was hit by the same gas-bomb on the same road that mine was struck. This town is still out of control and I don't know if our many offensives into the El-Sari neighborhood did any good. There are certain people that we are working with to root out pockets of insurgent resistance but their intelligence doesn't seem any better than ours. Almost daily, our Strykers are being hit by powerful IED's. We are even starting something similar to a football pool as to who will get hit on any given day. A [non-commissioned officer] from a Cavalry unit here was killed the other day by one of these IEDs. Well, I must go for now but I will try to e-mail you guys more than I have been. I love you guys so much and just knowing that I have you guys as my parents keeps me going through these scary days.
Skipper
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From: Darrell Griffin, Jr.
To: Darrell (DAD) Griffin
Sent: Friday, March 04, 2005 8:50 PM
Subject: Hey Mom and Dad
Dear Mom and Dad,
I was wondering if you could come up on the day that I fly in from Iraq. I would love to see the ones I love the most all at once. As soon as I get the date I will send it to you guys with at least 1 month advance notice. You could fly up the day prior to me coming home and then drive with Diana to the airport to pick me up. That would be so cool. Well, I must close for now. I have some more pictures that I will send later today of another close call that I had 2 days ago. This makes the 4th one so far.
Your faithful son,
Skipper
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From: Darrell Griffin, Sr.
Sent: Monday, March 14, 2005 12:02 PM
To: Darrell Griffin, Jr.
Subject: RE: Hey Mom and Dad
Son we pray for you every day of our lives. Right now I would love nothing more than you to be something safe like a police officer. As crazy as that sounds being a police officer would be safer than a soldier. This is a selfish thought on my part.
I do know that God is watching out for you and has great plans for you
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From: Darrell Griffin, Jr.
Sent: Friday, March 25, 2005 8:51 AM
To: Diana Griffin
Subject: bad day
Today my squad and I were pulling over watch on a rooftop looking down on 1st squad when heavy, heavy gunfire erupted all around us on the rooftop. One of my soldiers were struck in the arm hitting a major artery. We returned fire and while doing so I got him to the ground and began first aid to dress the wound and to stop the heavy, squirting bleeding. One of my other soldiers, PFC Williams was almost struck in the head. I was standing beside him during our earlier contact and was pointing where I wanted him to shoot when rounds impacted about 2 ft. from our head. It was a bad day.
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From: Darrell Griffin, Sr.
To: Darrell Griffin, Jr.
Sent: Tue, 6 Mar 2007 6:04 PM
Subject: March 6, 2007
Hello Son,
I have been watching the news a lot lately. It looks like we are taking steps to make Sadr less effective. I would personally like to see him taken out of the picture completely. It is getting close to your birthday. I wish you were spending [your] birthday in California. I hope all is going well for you and your comrades. Things here are going pretty normal. Sometimes normal is a good thing.
We love you and miss you.
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From: Darrell Griffin, Jr.
Sent: Wednesday, March 07, 2007 1:46 AM
To: Darrell Griffin, Sr.
Subject: Re: March 6, 2007
i have learned a lot about Al-Sadr and he's not what you think he is. I can't explain right now but he is definitely not portrayed accurately in the western (American) media. we are attempting to isolate him politically and here, he is the one who holds the most influence. I'll write more when i get a chance. i love you guys...
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