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No, please don't.Maybe we should just close all of these threads about DtM? Just a thought.
Thank you so much for posting this. Many of us are praying for Dan's family.Hello, my name is Ashley. I became a member here a few years ago b/c of Dan but I haven't been around for a long time. I was told that this post was here, and I would just like to say a few words if that's alright (I'm married so I'm not sure if I'm really allowed to be here).
Dan and Katie were very good friends of my husband Craig and I. Dan and Craig served together in the Marine Corps and Katie and I got to know each other through that, and I can honestly say she is the best friend I ever had. They were a beautiful couple inside and out, and their sons were sweet and wonderful young men. Some of our best memories are of our time spent with them.
So first of all, we were very heartbroken to hear that Dan had taken his own life. I'm glad he found some refuge here when he was on his own and I'm sorry you all had to go through something like that "firsthand". In my eyes there is no way to describe Dan that really does him justice. You always hear how wonderful people are after they pass away (even if they were not such great people when they were alive), but in Dan's case it was seriously very true. He was a great man. Kind, generous, loving, faithful and strong. He was the best dad you would ever meet. He always put others before himself and he led some of the most elite Marines into combat many, many times. Ultimately, he sacrificed himself so that many other men could make it home to their families. He lost his best squad in the process and that weighed very heavy on his heart.
Dan was critically wounded, both on the outside and the inside. His back was broken very badly, so much so that his spine was exposed in several places. One arm and both legs and his pelvis were shattered. His internal organs were badly damaged. He had a significant traumatic brain injury in which his brain was exposed, and lost hearing in both ears. He was in the hospital for a very long time. It was a miracle that he even survived at all. But Dan's heart and soul were broken much more than his body. It was a very sad thing and a string of unfortunate circumstances led him to an even more dire place. I guess it just wasn't worth the pain of living anymore. I don't think anyone can really judge that decision. I don't think he is anywhere other than Heaven right now either. He earned his spot there long ago.
I also want to say that Dan's wife, Katie, was the most beautiful, kind-hearted person. I know it is easy to judge and say that she abandoned Dan in his time of need, but she really just did what had to be done at the time. It breaks my heart to hear anyone talk badly about her b/c the things they say just aren't true. She loved Dan more than life itself. That much is true. She is an extremely sweet woman and she would never do anything that wasn't best for her family. She is really needing prayer right now. I know y'all are such caring people here and that you will do that for her. She is very distraught and regretful of many things and she needs our prayer to have those feelings and burdens lifted. She lost the love of her life and now it's final. Not only that but she lost her eldest son to suicide two years ago and will never be the same. (That was also another death that Dan carried the burden for). Katie really is a sweet, caring person so please don't let anyone say otherwise. She already feels bad enough.
Their handsome little guys need lots of prayer as well. Their youngest son is in the hospital now and not eating. He is a precious boy and Katie's baby, so she is right there with him even though she is suffering badly with her own grief. A mother tends to feel every ounce of her childrens pain times ten. Their other boy needs prayer as well. He is a strong boy but I know he is hurting deeply. They are such good kids. Just as sweet and loving as their parents. Please pray for them all as they go through this unbearably difficult time. I realize hardly any of you probably knew them in real life, so it makes it even more special that you all would care so much and keep them in prayer. Thank you so much.
~Ashley Van Beusekom
No, please don't.
I've seen threads like this for others. Keeping them open allows others that find out later to post, pray, and share their thoughts. I've seen people find out much later that their friend has passed and they posted. Sometimes years later.
Hello, my name is Ashley. I became a member here a few years ago b/c of Dan but I haven't been around for a long time. I was told that this post was here, and I would just like to say a few words if that's alright (I'm married so I'm not sure if I'm really allowed to be here).
Dan and Katie were very good friends of my husband Craig and I. Dan and Craig served together in the Marine Corps and Katie and I got to know each other through that, and I can honestly say she is the best friend I ever had. They were a beautiful couple inside and out, and their sons were sweet and wonderful young men. Some of our best memories are of our time spent with them.
So first of all, we were very heartbroken to hear that Dan had taken his own life. I'm glad he found some refuge here when he was on his own and I'm sorry you all had to go through something like that "firsthand". In my eyes there is no way to describe Dan that really does him justice. You always hear how wonderful people are after they pass away (even if they were not such great people when they were alive), but in Dan's case it was seriously very true. He was a great man. Kind, generous, loving, faithful and strong. He was the best dad you would ever meet. He always put others before himself and he led some of the most elite Marines into combat many, many times. Ultimately, he sacrificed himself so that many other men could make it home to their families. He lost his best squad in the process and that weighed very heavy on his heart.
Dan was critically wounded, both on the outside and the inside. His back was broken very badly, so much so that his spine was exposed in several places. One arm and both legs and his pelvis were shattered. His internal organs were badly damaged. He had a significant traumatic brain injury in which his brain was exposed, and lost hearing in both ears. He was in the hospital for a very long time. It was a miracle that he even survived at all. But Dan's heart and soul were broken much more than his body. It was a very sad thing and a string of unfortunate circumstances led him to an even more dire place. I guess it just wasn't worth the pain of living anymore. I don't think anyone can really judge that decision. I don't think he is anywhere other than Heaven right now either. He earned his spot there long ago.
I also want to say that Dan's wife, Katie, was the most beautiful, kind-hearted person. I know it is easy to judge and say that she abandoned Dan in his time of need, but she really just did what had to be done at the time. It breaks my heart to hear anyone talk badly about her b/c the things they say just aren't true. She loved Dan more than life itself. That much is true. She is an extremely sweet woman and she would never do anything that wasn't best for her family. She is really needing prayer right now. I know y'all are such caring people here and that you will do that for her. She is very distraught and regretful of many things and she needs our prayer to have those feelings and burdens lifted. She lost the love of her life and now it's final. Not only that but she lost her eldest son to suicide two years ago and will never be the same. (That was also another death that Dan carried the burden for). Katie really is a sweet, caring person so please don't let anyone say otherwise. She already feels bad enough.
Their handsome little guys need lots of prayer as well. Their youngest son is in the hospital now and not eating. He is a precious boy and Katie's baby, so she is right there with him even though she is suffering badly with her own grief. A mother tends to feel every ounce of her childrens pain times ten. Their other boy needs prayer as well. He is a strong boy but I know he is hurting deeply. They are such good kids. Just as sweet and loving as their parents. Please pray for them all as they go through this unbearably difficult time. I realize hardly any of you probably knew them in real life, so it makes it even more special that you all would care so much and keep them in prayer. Thank you so much.
~Ashley Van Beusekom
You all are more than welcome. One thing I did forget to mention about Katie is that she was always the first one to help out and support the families of our Marines who were wounded or never made it home. She could always be counted on for that more than anyone I knew. She has a very caring heart and I just hope and pray that all of the love and support she gave to others in their time of need will come back to really bless her and the boys.
I hope Katie knows that the picture you painted of her was the same one Dan shared.
My heart goes out to this family. I pray for them multiple times daily.
I agree too. I thought it should be closed when someone who has now been banned was harassing this place. But it hopefully will be ok now.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Ashley. I don't think I know you, but thanks to Craig for his service. I have to agree with everything you said.
I think I mentioned before that my oldest son had osteosarcoma (bone cancer) when he was 11. I remember one day coming home from work and seeing Danny and Alex, who were about 9 and 4 at the time (this was before Trent was born) out in front of their house with a frog stand. You know like a lemonade stand that sells frogs instead? Haha. They had gone down to the creek and caught tons of tree frogs and toads and were selling them to raise money for my son. They had borrowed a picture from my wife at the time and had it sitting on their stand with a sign advertising the sale. I remember the little tree frogs were 10 cents a piece, the toads were a dollar, and then they had this huge bullfrog that they were selling for 20 dollars. Oh, or you could get a whole mason jar stuffed with a mix of frogs for like 10 bucks. It was awesome. Those kids ended up raising over $300 for my son that day (a lot from donations, and I'm sure most of those who did buy frogs just let them go back in the creek haha), but it meant so much to us and those boys were so proud of how much money they earned for my son. They were sure raised right. Great kids.
Thank you, MrsVanB, for contributing your thoughts and memories to the thread. Your words really touched my heart. As a widow myself, like blackribbon, I can also somewhat understand the feelings that Katie is experiencing right now although her situation is much more complex. I am praying constantly for her and her boys to be comforted by His love and mercy. I also pray that if they don't know the Lord that they will invite Him into their hearts.
I didn't know it was even possible for someone to survive the injuries Dan received and then recover as much as he did. It's obvious God thought he still had more lives to touch. I know he touched all of our lives here on this forum. There must have been a reason he reached out to us. I thank the Lord for bringing Dan into my life for the few days I "knew" him. It really was a blessing.
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