4 months later and we still have not been able to put you to rest due to the COVID-19. I miss you, talking with you. I love you. Derick I am so sorry for Dad's loss.

Dear, dear Derick, I can only wish to share your pain while you experience this event on life's journey. May the Lord bless you and His mother hold you in her loving arms during this time. Should I be able to do anything for you or your family, please do contact me through my e-mail address shown. Loving and kindest of wishes to you and yours!

Derrick, I was the last gold Crew Chief of the Boat before DECOM. I may have known him briefly but what I can say is that he was a fine man and served his country well. God Bless you nad your family and I am sorry for your loss.

To Carstens Family, On behalf of the USS Henry L Stimson SSBN655 Association, I offer you our sincere condolences on Dirk’s passing. We grieve with you on the loss of your loved one and our shipmate. Your family is in our thoughts and prayers. There is no expiration date on the back of our dolphins and Dirk will always be remembered as a “Brother of the Phin”, a Stimson shipmate and a great Patriot. Dirk's name has been placed on the Eternal Patrol page of the Stimson Website: http://ssbn655.org/eternal-patrol/eternal-patrol.html MT1(SS) Dirk C. Carstens US Navy Submarine Veteran Now on Eternal Patrol Sailor Rest Your Oar Your Shipmates Have The Watch Fair Winds and Following Seas Shipmate Nick Nichols, MTCM(SS) USN Ret Secretary/Webmaster SSBN 655 Association

To the Carstens Family, On behalf of the Charleston Base SUBVETS and Swamp Fox Chapter SUBVETS WWII, I offer you our sincere condolences on Dirk’s passing. We grieve with you on the death of your loved one and our shipmate. The SUBVETS will have your family in our thoughts and prayers. There is no expiration date on the back of our dolphins and Dirk, who earned his 'fish' when he qualified in submarines, will always be remembered as a “Brother of the Phin” and a great Patriot. BRAVO ZULU SHIPMATE!! MT1(SS) Dirk C. Carstens US Navy Submarine Veteran Now on Eternal Patrol Sailor Rest Your Oar Your Shipmates Have The Watch Fair Winds and Following Seas Shipmate Charleston Base Submarine Veterans Nick Nichols, MTCM(SS) USN Ret. Base Chaplain

What a beautiful tribute, Derick! I am so sorry for you loss. Please know that the love of your loving, heavenly Father is always with you - and so is the love of your KPC family. With prayer and deepest sympathy, Paula Peddicord

I never met Dirk but I'm a friend of his sister Linda. My Prayers are with the family and knowing they will see him again I hope will comfort them. God bless.