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Joshua
Dingler
An All American Hero
1986-2005
In Memoriam
On Tuesday, August 16, 2005, I received a phone
call. I was driving my car at the time and was
told to pull over and park as soon as possible.
I then learned that Joshua Dingler had died in Iraq.
My heart sank. My eyes immediately filled with
tears. I sat there in my car crying for
someone that I had never met, someone who I never
even talked to on the phone. But I suddenly
felt as if I had lost a brother. A brother
that I would never meet.
Over the past few years, I have had the pleasure of
getting to know Tommy Dingler, Joshua's father.
It was because of the pride that Tommy and Karen
Dingler had for their son, Joshua, that I decided to
create this Military Tribute page on my web site.
During Joshua's military career, Tommy always kept
me up to date. Through Tommy, I felt as if I
knew Joshua.
My thoughts and prayers are with the Dingler
family, Joshua's beautiful girlfriend, and all of
his relatives and friends. I have received
numerous emails from those who knew Joshua. He
most definitely made a positive impact on those that
knew him.
- Donna Fiducia
SPC Joshua Dingler, was
an all American hero in every sense of the
word. As a boy he played little league baseball
with all the energy his little body could
muster. As a scout in Boy Scout Troop #321 of
Dallas Georgia, he attained LIFE SCOUT rank.
As a
middle school
student, he visited
Australia and New Zealand as a Student
Ambassador in the People 2 People program.
While a student in East Paulding High School, he
served whole heartedly in the Army JROTC program
attaining the
rank of Cadet
Lieutenant Colonel.
He was the battalion commander of his AJROTC
"stinger battalion" during his Senior year.
While leading his
battalion staff and the Stinger’s “Raider Team”,
he
also became
a member of the Army National Guard
in August of that
year.
He loved being with his
"brothers" in the guard,
always looking forward to “guard weekends.”
The only disagreement that
he had with his superiors in the unit was
simple: "Yes NASCAR really is a sport," he would
tell them.
Through the compassion shown to him in his
formative years while in numerous churches in
north Georgia, a tender spot was placed in his
heart for all those who hurt. This compassion
motivated him into service and that service set
him apart as a leader in his church's youth
ministry. He was not only a hero to his church
but also to many in his school.
We have been amazed
at the number of High School students
that have come to
tell us how much they looked up to Joshua. On
the Wednesday evening of the week of his
Homegoing, about 300 youth showed up at our
church for a prayer service. After that, the
youth of our church planted a tree in his
memory. Yes, one man (even a young one) can make
a difference.
I've been told, the flags at East Paulding High,
where Josh graduated in 2004, and at Hiram High
School where Josh's younger brother, Samuel is a
student are flying at half-staff. That
all-American spirit was shown not only in what
he did, Joshua worked in Iraq as a Gunner/Driver
of an armored Humvee, but also in what he
believed.
He believed in the freedom we have as
Americans. He believed that this freedom was
worth protecting and was gladly committed to
protecting it.
- Tommy Dingler
Two of his
friends died beside him: Sgt. Thomas J. Strickland,
27, of Fairplay in Douglas County and Spc. Paul
Saylor, 21, of Bremen, near the Alabama state line.
This photo was sent to me by the proud parents of PVT
Christopher Anthony York of Tallapoosa, Georgia. PVT
York is a platoon leader with the
3rd PLT CO B 2nd BN 81st AR REGT in Fort Knox, Kentucky.
PVT York's parents are Mr. & Mrs. Marc York of Tallapoosa,
Georgia and are huge Fox News Channel fans!
This photo was sent to me by Aaron Diaz of the USAF.
Aaron is from Norman, OK and is a proud member of the
386EOSS Squadron that was recently deployed to Kuwait.
Aaron is on the front row, 4th from the left. He
mentioned that no one in this picture, himself included,
has any idea why the guy in the middle is laughing!
But he made me laugh too!
This is Lt. Col. Alessandro
Polselli (Italian Air Force) from Rimini, Italy on the right
and
Lt. Habeck (US) on left in Tallil, Iraq. It is an
honor to add these two guys to my site!
Shortly after Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast
region, I made a trip to the area.
This photo was taken while I was in the French Quarter
where these guys from the 82nd Airborne were on patrol.
And yes, of course, they ALL watch The Fox News Channel!
This vehicle was AWESOME!
This amphibious vehicle is going DOWN the entrance ramp to
Interstate 610 in New Orleans.
Their mission was search and rescue. It was wild to
see this "mastodon" drive along the flooded streets like my
car goes through a 2" puddle of water! AMAZING!!
Prior to going into the flooded streets of New Orleans, I
had a chance to meet and talk with two of the guys assigned
to this massive vehicle. Gunner's Mate Matthew Quave
and Seabee Jay Emmons were kind enough to take a few minutes
to explain to me what it is capable of doing.
Basically, anything! How perfect would it be to have
something like this to navigate through
New York city traffic??
"Move over ya Joik!! I'm is coming through, and
I want THAT parking spot!!!!"
OK, needless to say, I felt VERY safe and proud!
This photo with
members of the 82nd Airborne is too cool!
We were standing on Interstate 610 where they were stationed
to perform search and rescue. Some of these guys have
done two tours of duty in Iraq. This was an honor so
say the least.
Members of the 82nd Airborne worked with the Riverside,
California Fire and Rescue. Again, their mission was
to perform search and rescue for people who remained in
their homes after the flooding. It was amazing to
learn how many different fire and rescue units and police
departments from all over the United States converged on New
Orleans to join forces with the military and local law
enforcement agencies to bring order and safety to the city.
There go the Seabees! What you are looking at is an
entrance ramp to I-610. The ramp was half under water
and the neighborhood was completely flooded. My
friends are headed into the neighborhood looking for people
still trapped in their homes more than a week after
Hurricane Katrina hit. Shortly after this photo was
taken an elderly couple was airlifted onto I-610. They
had been rescued! While they were hungry and
dehydrated, they were OK... Thanks to the 82nd
Airborne and Riverside Fire & Rescue! Way to go guys!!
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