JD:
Since you have a static IP address, then you need to populate /etc/resolv.conf.
Aaron Gray:
I have done that but as soon as I do a "service network restart" it is blanked again.
I would try: Stop the network service. Edit the configuration files. Start the network service.
If you're modifying the files while the service is running, it could be reverting to backups when stopping/restarting.