CPL Dustin J. Libby, 22, was born on January 4, 1984 in Presque Isle, Maine. He is the son of Judson L. Libby and Geni L. Libby. Dustin graduated from Presque Isle High School’s Adult Education program in the class of 2003. He joined the U.S. Marine Corps and graduated in February of 2004 with a meritorious promotion to private 1st class. Dustin went on to proudly serve with the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1 Marine Expeditionary Force Echo Company based out of Camp Pendleton, California. Cpl. Libby’s first stay at Camp Pendleton was short as he was almost immediately deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in the Summer 2004. Dustin returned from this deployment in the fall of 2004 and remained stateside until his second overseas deployment to Okinawa, Japan where he participated in joint training with the Philippine military. Upon his return from Japan Dustin met his fiancé in California. His last deployment, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, brought him back to Ar Ramadi where he proudly led a squad of 12 men. Dustin enjoyed outdoor activities, spending time with family and friends and being a Marine, but, above all else, he loved his fiancé.
Dustin had a love of the outdoors where he enjoyed snowboarding and anything that could keep his active body busy. He tried his hand at playing guitar and saxophone and believed himself to be pretty good. Dustin was not camera shy and very rarely took a serious photo. He is featured in the book Echo in Ramadi, a descriptive writing of his company in Ar Ramadi, written by Major Scott Huesing.
Dustin’s stone was retrieved by his mother Geni in the backyard of his childhood home in Castle Rock, Maine. In addition, a stone monument in his honor is placed at the head of the summit trail atop Haystack Mountain in Castle Hill, Maine where he now has a trail named in his honor.
To the Family, Fiancé and Friends of Marine CPL Dustin J. Libby:
My name is Rob Martel. On Saturday August 28, 2019, I had the honor and privilege of carrying the stone and story of CPL Dustin Libby to the Summit of Cadillac Mountain with The Summit Project (TSP). This was my first hike at Cadillac Mountain and with TSP. I also learned that Saturday, while at basecamp at Smugglers Den, that this too would be the first hike for Dustin’s stone with TSP. This was truly an honor for me and I took pride in being the first one to carry his stone and story for this hike. We had nice weather on that day as our team “Blackwood” hiked the South Ridge Trail to the summit. Not only was I honored to have Dustin’s stone in my pack, I also was grateful to be carrying the flag for our team.
It is now almost two weeks since the hike and I am still having trouble with writing this reflection letter. I have gone over what I want to write a 1,000 times in my mind and made scribble notes on paper which I have tossed out. I feel that no words can convey how I felt the day of hike and what it meant to me to carry Dustin’s stone. I did my best in sharing Dustin’s story during circle at the Summit. I know he deserved more, but I shared from what I read on his biography. He seemed like a great young man and I am thankful for his service to our Country. His story will always be with me.
When I received my email informing me of the stone and story that I would be carrying for the hike up Cadillac Mountain, I was extremely honored to have gotten a fellow “Jarhead” as I too served in the Marine Corp! After reading Dustin’s biography in preparation for the hike, I found that Dustin and I have some similarities. For example, I too was born in January. The year that Dustin was born, 1984, I graduated high school and shipped out to bootcamp at Parris Island in South Carolina to become a Marine! I spent four years in the Marines from 1984 to 1988 with the 9th Engineers stationed in Okinawa. I too was a CPL. From 1999 to 2015, I served with the Maine Army National Guard. I was sent to Iraq during the same year that Dustin served his first tour, 2004. I was with the 133rd Army National Guard Battalion stationed at Mosul.
I heard at basecamp that sometimes the stone picks the person. Due to some of our similarities, there is a part of me that believes that Dustin chose me to ensure that I, a former Marine, got him safely to the Summit and carried on his story. I am proud of my service in Marine Corp just as Dustin was. Words cannot express my sorrow to Dustin’s family, fiancé and friends for their loss of this fine young man at such a young age.
I am a firm believer in “Once a Marine, Always a Marine” ~ Semper Fi Dustin! Your story will carry on within me.
Very Respectively,
Robert Martel
SSGT MEANG (Ret.)
Dear Family,
Thank you for sharing Dustin’s Memorial stone and trusting me to fly with him to Washington DC for four days to run in the Marine Corp Marathon 10K. It was a true honor to be carrying his stone for an event dedicated to honoring Marines.
It was incredibly powerful to stand in the pouring rain on the National Mall surrounded by Marines and over 14,000 runners all on the same mission – paying tribute to the Marine Corp. I felt even more blessed because I was able to carry Dustin with me. I shared his story with everyone that asked which might be why my run time was longer than usual. Smiling Marines lined the 10k route and I felt their genuine interest in hearing about Dustin’s memorial stone and his life.
We ran from the National Mall past the Washington Memorial over the 14th St Bridge down into Crystal City past the Pentagon alongside Arlington Cemetery and finishing up at the Iwo Jima US Marine Corp War Memorial. It was very powerful and emotional.
Geni, after speaking with you on the phone before the trip, I have to admit, I was a bit nervous about how I would run carrying the stone. You were surprised that someone would run with the heavy stone. When I picked up Dustin’s stone, I knew it would be okay. And it was. Together, we made it through TSA, with some explanation, then we made it thru the windy rainy morning of the run. It was an amazing experience that is hard to put into words.
Thank you!
Sincerely
Jennifer Simmons
My wife was going to take Dustin up Cadillac Mountain for The Summit Project, however, the week of the hike she injured her back. She had told me about Dustin and what she had learned about him through her research. When she injured herself and was unable to hike, I did not want to see Dustin get left behind. I offered to take him up the trail in my wife’s place. I was allowed to fill in for her, and through email, I was brought up to speed on what would transpire during the day of the hike. At the end of the email I remember it said it was nice of me to fill in, and I thought “yeah, it is a nice thing to do”. Then I started my own research on Dustin and my view on what I was doing changed. It was not nice of me to participate; it was a privilege. I am roughly the same age as Dustin and remember what I was doing when I was 22. It humbles me greatly to learn what this young man had done during his short time on earth. I can only imagine what he would have done, had he more time.
On the day of the hike when we reached the top of mountain after a beautiful climb, we gathered to share what we had learned about our heroes. When it was my turn to tell the group what I had learned about Dustin, it touched me much more than I had realized before that moment. My words could not begin to do him the justice that he deserved, but I tried to make an impression on everyone there of the quality of man that he was. It was an honor to hike with Dustin. I have shared with my two children the things that he had done and the type of person he was. My wife and I are two more people who will not forget him, and with time I hope that my children will follow suit. We would all like to say, “Thank you Dustin”.
Sincerely
Brandon Schanz