The Loss of Dale

Sargent Uncle Dale R. Griffin
Thanks to every one who has been post photos of Dale and sharing their thoughts, memories and prayers!


My brother-in-law Dale R. Griffin was killed last week in a bombing in Afghanistan. He along with 6 other soldiers and their interpreter were riding in a striker when they went over the bomb. From the information I can gather the explosion was so strong that it blew the floor of the striker up through the roof. The striker that came into recover Dale's group under went gun fire. These strikers usually travel in much larger groups and there are supposed to be crews that go out before the strikers to identify these bombs. Neither of these things happened this time.
Dona and Gene (my in-laws) awoke at about midnight Tuesday to two uniformed officers knocking at their door. I can't even imagine opening the door. It must have been horrifying.
My husband, Clint, and his older bother dale both work for Gene's Capital Planning firm that is less than 10 min from the Griffin Home/The Griffin Castle ( family name for the home the 4 kids grew up in from a song written by Blake). As soon as they arrived at work they were told to head over to their parents home. Clint called me soon after to tell me that he was coming home. His voice was shaky and I could feel my world stopping and the blood draining from my face as he told me he had just found out Dale had been killed last night. I said I'd seem him an a few min and asked him to be safe.
I quickly called my Mom out in Salt Lake and told her as much as I knew. I know we spoke for a couple of min but I just remember her saying a very empathetic "oh, no Melissa."I knew she would be able to help me know how to help my family through this difficult time we were about to face because my little sister Nicole passed away when she was 4 and I was 5 for. This awful loss seemed so false! How could Dale be gone! what a waste! Not only was he invincible but he had so much more he was going to be around for! It wasn't just him that would be gone it was also the life of a family he may have had that would interact and grow up with us and our children! They seemed to has been senselessly murdered as well! How was I supported to survive Griffin Family vacations with out Dale to sarcastically but lovingly take the role of the tough guy who keeps everyone in line and grounded! I knew all these thought I was having would become feeling that I would have to go through but I just felt normal and scared for my in-laws.
I also quickly called my very close friend Emily Green. She instantly offered to help in any way and wondered if we would want her to pick our boys up from school and have them play at her house for as long as we needed. She is wonderful!
I ran out the the back porch and opened the garage for Clint and paced back and forth on our deck. I clung to the cell phone feeling stunned and extremely helpless. It seemed to take forever for Clint to drive up. I could tell he was okay for the moment and prepared to be brave for his parents for the next little while and communicated that to me as we got ready to pick up our boys from school and head over to the Griffin Castle. A uniformed member of the military was going to be there at about noon to meet with the Griffins. We decided to take all three boys (ages 5, 3,& 1) with us for some comic relief and to provide the inevitable distraction the poopy diapers and hungry tummies always provide.
It was chaos and time ticked by in slow motion. I tried to keep the kids quite and entertained while the family talked in a different room and filled out paper work. Cali's (Clint's older sister) kids, Nyah and Dane, were a wonderful help and much needed company for me.

I'm sure I'll and more details as I remember them but this is emotionally exhausting and I need to save up some energy for later. We have been spending as much time at the Griffin Castle as possible . It is difficult to be there but comforting at the same time. It feels like Dale is just going to walk around the corner any min and crash on the couch near us or wrestle with the kids or Clint and their Dad. I keep waiting for his witty and often superior than thou remarks that I jab back at. The frustration I would feel when he caught me off guard, proved me wrong, or just "one upped", was welcomed and especially viewing those feelings in comparison with my frustration with Dale being gone.

back to work._