| Iván Castro | |
|---|---|
 Captain Iván Castro | |
| Born | 1967 (age 56–57) |
| Place of birth | Hoboken, New Jersey |
| Allegiance |
 United States of America |
| Service/branch |
 United States Army |
| Years of service | 1988–present |
| Rank |
 - Captain |
| Unit | Special Operations Recruiting Battalion (SORB) - Assistant Operations Officer |
| Battles/wars |
Operations Desert Storm/Shield Operation Iraqi Freedom Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Joint Forge Campaigns in Kosovo and Albania |
| Awards |
Purple Heart Meritorious Service Medal Army Commendation Medal |
Captain Iván Castro[1] (born 1967)[2] is a U.S. Army officer who has continued serving on active duty in the Special Forces despite losing his eyesight. He is one of three blind active duty officers who serves in the U.S. Army[3] and the only blind officer serving in the United States Army Special Forces. Castro currently serves on active duty at the Special Operations Recruiting Battalion as the Assistant Operations Officer /Total Army Involvement Recruiting Coordinator. He is an advocate of rehabilitation, employment and education for wounded warriors and participates in various races and marathons as a contestant.
Early years[]
Castro was born in Hoboken, New Jersey to parents who were originally from Puerto Rico.[2] In 1979, when he was 12 years old, he moved to Puerto Rico with his mother.[2][4] After graduating from Antilles Military Academy, Castro attended the University of Puerto Rico on an athletic scholarship. During his student years he represented his alma mater in track and field and cross country competitions. After four years of college, Castro enlisted in the US Army as a Private First Class and reached the rank of Sergeant First Class before attending Officer Candidate School.[5] Castro later earned his BBA from Campbell University in North Carolina.[6]
Military career[]
Castro's military career began in the summer of 1987. He attended the Basic Airborne Course while enrolled in the ROTC program at the University of Puerto Rico. Castro also served as an Infantryman in the Puerto Rican National Guard from 1988 to 1990. He then enlisted in the U.S. Army, completing his first tour of duty in B Co, 1/87 Infantry. During this time, he was deployed in support of Operation Desert Storm/Desert Shield. Upon his return, he served with 101st Pathfinder Detachment at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
In 1992, Castro was reassigned to E Co, 51st Infantry (Airborne) Long Range Surveillance Company in Darmstadt, Germany. While in Germany, Castro deployed twice to Bosnia in support of Operations Joint Endeavor and Joint Forge. In 1996, he reported to C Co, 3rd Ranger BN and in 1998, Castro served as a Drill Sergeant at A Co, 2/19 Infantry at Sandhill at Fort Benning, Georgia.
In 1999, he attended Special Forces Assessment and Selection and later that year began the Special Forces Qualification Course.[7] Upon graduation in 2000, he reported to B Co, 3rd BN/7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Castro's MOS was Special Forces Weapons Sergeant. While there, he deployed to Colombia, Belize, and Ecuador.[3]
Castro went to night school to complete a B.A. degree, before attending the Army's Officers Candidate School.[6] He attended Officer Candidate School in 2004, earning a second lieutenant commission the same year. He then attended the Infantry Officer basic course at Ft. Benning, GA. In 2005, he reported to D co, 1st BN 325 (Airborne) Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division at Ft. Bragg, NC. While assigned to the 82nd, he deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom for the first parliamentary elections.[8]
Deployment to Iraq[]
By the time he was sent to Iraq as a scout platoon leader with 1/325 Infantry Regiment, Castro was already an experienced combat veteran. In 2006, Castro was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, which was in combat in Iraq at the time. In September 2006, Castro and his men had relieved other paratroopers atop a house in the town of Yusifiyah, some 20 miles southwest of Baghdad, after a night of fighting.[3]
As an officer, Castro was not required to personally provide fire support to fellow soldiers in the exposed housetop position.[9] Nonetheless, he volunteered for the mission and was accompanied by Sergeant Ralph Porras and Private First Class Justin Dreese. A mortar round landed a few feet away from him, killing Sergeant Porras and PFC Dreese and severely wounding Castro. Shrapnel tore through his body, damaging a shoulder, breaking an arm, fracturing facial bones and collapsing his lungs. The blast also drove the frame of his protective eyewear into his face.[10]
Castro was sent to the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. The top half of his right index finger was ripped off and the doctors had to amputate the remaining part of the finger. His right eye was blown out and he had a metal fragment in his left eye. The extent of his injuries was such that doctors doubted whether Castro would survive the week.[10] When Castro regained consciousness days later, his right eye was gone, but doctors hoped to salvage the vision in his left. The surgeons later removed one last piece of shrapnel from that eye. When they took off his bandages they flashed a light for Castro to see; however, when he did not respond to the light, he was told that he would never see again.[4] Castro remained in the hospital for two months after his injury, with no idea of what he would do next. He then overheard a doctor and a nurse discussing the next Army Ten-Miler and the Marine Corps Marathon. He asked his doctor if the courses were flat or hilly, then made running both races his goal.[5]
Recovery[]
Castro spent 17 months in recovery before seeking a permanent assignment in the Army's Special Operations Command, at the 7th Special Forces Group's headquarters company in Fort Bragg. Through convalescence and rehabilitation, Castro struggled to regain a measure of independence and regularly worked out – both running and in the gym.[3]
New assignment[]
Before being appointed executive officer of the 7th Special Forces Group's headquarters company, he spent a weekend familiarizing himself with the group area where he was going to work by walking around and measuring the steps from his car to his office.[3] He is quoted in the media as saying:[3]
"I am going to push the limits," "I don't want to go to Fort Bragg and show up and sit in an office. I want to work every day and have a mission." "I want to be treated the same way as other officers," Castro said. "I don't want them to take pity over me or give me something I've not earned."
Upon his appointment, Castro became the only blind officer serving in the Special Forces and one of three blind officers who serve in the active-duty Army,[3] though his managerial tasks are not directly involved with combat. In February 2008, Castro was promoted to the rank of captain,[7] and served as the executive officer of the 7th Special Forces Group at Fort Bragg.[3][4]
On December 15, 2009, Castro graduated from the Maneuver Captains Career Course at Fort Benning, Georgia. He is currently working as the Assistant Operations Officer/ Total Army Involvement Recruiting Coordinator at Fort Bragg, N.C.[11]
Athletic endeavors[]
Capt. Iván Castro (#471) guided by Major Phil Young (#70321) runs the Army Ten-Miler.
Castro has remained active as an athlete. At Bragg he trained with Major Phil Young, who was his team leader in the Special Forces, and has participated in several long-distance road races, often being enthusiastically greeted by the audiences for his determination.[12] He now trains with LT. Colonel Fred Dummar, who is his Battalion Commander. Together they have completed several marathons. Among the notable races and marathons in which Castro has participated, with a guide, as a member of the "Missing Parts In Action" team in 2007, are the Army Ten-Miler and the Marine Corps Marathon. In 2008, he participated in the Bataan Memorial Death March Marathon in New Mexico, the Boston Marathon and the U.S. Air Force Marathon.[9]
In 2008, Castro as a member and participant in Operation Peer Support, participated in the Blinded Veterans Association's 62nd National Convention.[13] In June 2009, Castro participated in the Midnight Boogie 50 mile ultramarathon.[14]
Community service[]
Castro is an advocate of rehabilitation funding for the blind, visiting members of Congress in his quest. He was honored during a visit to the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center in Augusta, Georgia with a plaque engraved in braille, which thanked him for his continued service.[5] He also mentors, coaches, and counsels wounded service members with various injuries. Recently, Castro was invited to be the keynote speaker at the 25th International Technology and Persons with Disabilities Conference.[15]
Castro currently serves on active duty at the Special Operations Recruiting Battalion as the Assistant Operations Officer /Total Army Involvement Recruiting Coordinator. He has a 17-year-old son named Iván Eduardo.[6]
Awards and decorations[]
Among Castro's military decorations are the following:
See also[]
References[]
- ↑ "Soldado ciego hispano sirve en unidad de elite de EEUU" (in Spanish). Puerto Rico: Terra Puerto Rico. July 2, 2010. http://www.terra.com.pr/noticias/articulo/html/act1318240.htm. Retrieved November 4, 2010.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Nordlinger, Jay (2009-02-09). "Captain Extraordinary". National Review. pp. 16–17.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 "Special Forces Soldier, Blinded in Battle, Determined to Keep Serving". Fox News. June 30, 2008. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,373592,00.html. Retrieved December 3, 2008. Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "FoxNews_AP_20080630" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Zoroya, Gregg (November 13, 2007). "Blinded by war: Injuries send troops into darkness". USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/news/military/2007-11-13-eyeinjuries_N.htm. Retrieved December 3, 2008.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Brackett, Charmain Z.. "Hispanic Heritage Program". The Signal. Fort Gordon, Georgia. http://www.fortgordonsignal.com/news/2008/0919/front_page/002.html. Retrieved December 3, 2008.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Mannes, George (March 11, 2008). "A flash and a boom: How an enemy mortar shell changed everything". http://money.cnn.com/2008/03/11/pf/ivan_castro.moneymag/index2.htm. Retrieved December 6, 2008.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Lopez, Kathleen A. K. (September 12, 2008). "Special Forces soldier not your average USAF marathoner". Air Force Print News Today. United States Air Force. http://www.ellsworth.af.mil/news/story_print.asp?id=123114933. Retrieved December 6, 2008.
- ↑ Brackett, Charmain Z. (February 1, 2008). "Warrior loses sight, not faith". The Signal. Public Affairs Office, Fort Gordon. http://www.gordon.army.mil/pao/topstory_020108.htm. Retrieved December 6, 2008.[dead link]
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Archdeacon, Tom (September 21, 2008). "Race a special mission for Castro". Dayton Daily News. http://www.daytondailynews.com/story/content/oh/story/sports/local/2008/09/21/ddn092108sparch.html. Retrieved December 3, 2008.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Burgess, Lisa (October 8, 2007). "Blinded in Iraq, soldier running toward new goal". Stars and Stripes. http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=49352. Retrieved December 3, 2008.
- ↑ SF officer, blinded in Iraq, graduates MCCC
- ↑ "Welcome Home — CPT Ivan Castro". Patriot Guard Riders. September 2008. http://www.patriotguard.org/Forums/tabid/61/postid/975689/view/topic/Default.aspx. Retrieved December 3, 2008.
- ↑ "'Higher Ground' Provides Big Lift". BVA Bulletin. Blinded Veterans Association. Spring 2008. http://www.bva.org/spr08bulletin/around.html. Retrieved December 4, 2008.
- ↑ Midnight Boogie 2009 Results
- ↑ 25th International Technology and Persons with Disabilities Conference
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