CPT Ivan Castro

[SF_BHT]

Originally Posted by Guy

He actually told me...he got more sleep in training than he did working for me.

Stay safe.

He might need a little special attention when he gets his training....

[Guy]

Originally Posted by SF_BHT

He might need a littl special attention when he gets his training....

I've already issued him a WARNORD about TS!

I'll see if he makes contact!

DRIVE ON CPT!

Stay safe.

[Gypsy]

A true inspiration to all...amazing Man.

[Counsel]

We sleep safe at night because men like Capt. Castro are protecting us.

Por Kevin Maurer / Prensa Asociada
http://www.elnuevodia.com/diario/not...el_alma/425763

Fort Bragg, Carolina del Norte -

Cuando el capitán boricua Iván Castro ingresó al Ejército de Estados Unidos, estableció sus metas: saltar de aviones, derrumbar obstáculos y guiar a los soldados en combate. Las alcanzó todas. Entonces, un disparo de mortero cayó a cinco pies de donde estaba parado y le robó la vista en el acto.

“Cuando eres ciego, tienes que ponerte nuevas metas”, dice Castro.

"Cuando eres ciego, tienes que ponerte nuevas metas. En las Fuerzas Especiales uno debe ir por encima y más allá aún de lo que se le ordena... quiero ser tratado de la misma manera que los otros oficiales. Nunca he deseado que sientan lástima de mí y menos aun que se me dé algo que no me merezca”.

Y las puso más altas. No conforme con simplemente permanecer en el Ejército, él es el único oficial invidente activo en las Fuerzas Especiales, el pequeño y célebre grupo elite, famoso por sus incursiones detrás de las líneas enemigas en misiones de combate.

Como oficial ejecutivo en el centro de mando del 7mo. Grupo de las Fuerzas Especiales, las responsabilidades de Castro no lo colocan directamente en la línea de combate, sin embargo, lo llevan a tomar parte en prácticamente todo lo que desemboca en ello.

“Voy a llevar esto hasta el límite”, dice este puertorriqueño de 40 años. “Yo no deseo ir a Fort Bragg y simplemente sentarme en una oficina. Quiero trabajar todos los días y estar en una misión”.

Desde el inicio de la guerra en Irak, más de 100 soldados han perdido totalmente la vista en combate y otros 247 sólo de un ojo. Sólo otros dos oficiales invidentes están en el servicio activo: un capitán que estudia para ser instructor en West Point y un instructor en el Combined Arms Center, en Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

El comandante de la unidad de Castro asevera que él no tiene una asignación por caridad, sino porque pone al servicio de la institución todas sus virtudes como miembro de las Fuerzas Especiales y como líder de pelotón con la 82da. División Aérea.

“La única razón por la que alguien sirve en el 7mo. grupo de las Fuerzas Especiales es porque realmente tiene talento”, dijo el coronel Sean Mullholland. “No utilizamos a Castro para hacer relaciones públicas o como recurso para el reclutamiento”.

La oscuridad eterna-

Veterano con experiencia de 18 años en el Ejército, Castro fue vigilante antes de completar su entrenamiento para ingresar a las Fuerzas Especiales, un aciago año que muchos soldados son incapaces de terminar.
Él se unió a las Fuerzas Especiales como sargento de armas, obtuvo una comisión oficial y fue trasladado a la 82da. División Aérea, con la esperanza de regresar como líder de grupo.

Entonces, en septiembre de 2006, su vida cambió en un tejado de Youssifiyah, Irak.

Castro había relevado a otros colegas en los altos de una casa después de una noche de combate. Nunca escuchó el estampido del mortero. Simplemente un destello y luego la oscuridad total... y eterna.
La metralla penetró por diversas partes de su cuerpo, fracturándole un brazo y el hombro. También le desgarró la parte derecha del rostro. Otros dos paracaidistas murieron.

Cuando Castro despertó seis semanas después en el Centro Médico Naval Nacional, en Bethesda, Maryland, su ojo derecho había desaparecido. Los médicos no pudieron salvar el izquierdo.

La Asociación de Veteranos Invidentes estima que 13% de todos los procedimientos de emergencia por combate en Irak han estado relacionados con heridas en los ojos y que más de la mitad de los soldados con heridas por traumas cerebrales sufren de serias deficiencias visuales. Esto las coloca como la tercera herida de guerra más común en Irak, después del Síndrome de Estrés Postraumático y las heridas cerebrales.

“Lo que él está haciendo es un gran ejemplo de que un invidente puede tener una carrera excitante y con significado”, dijo Thomas Zampieri, director de las relaciones gubernamentales de la asociación.

Después de 17 meses de recuperación, Castro buscó una asignación permanente en los servicios del Comando Especial de Operaciones, vinculado al 7mo. Grupo de las Fuerzas Especiales. Él se enfoca en tareas administrativas mientras depura el dominio del español entre los miembros, idioma de suma importancia para una unidad que regularmente es destinada a entrenar tropas sudamericanas.

“Quiero apoyar a estos chicos para hacerles la vida un poco más fácil y segura, con la idea de que puedan cumplir sus misiones”, apunta Castro.

“Obviamente él no puede hacer las mismas tareas que una persona con visión, pero Iván encontrará la manera de hacer lo que se tiene que hacer”, dijo Mullholland. “Una de las cosas que más me impresiona de él es su determinación para continuar sirviendo a su país, a pesar de todo lo que ha pasado”.

Hombre de acero-

Castro entrena regularmente en el gimnasio y corre con sus piernas musculosas y poderosas. Aunque tiene una prótesis en la cavidad ocular derecha y lleva a flor de piel la huella de la metralla en sus brazos, su desbordante personalidad eclipsa sus heridas de guerra. Nadie escapa a sus explosivos saludos, sus bromas agudas -siempre respetuosas- y su ilimitada voluntad de vivir.

Castro corrió este año en el maratón de Boston -al lado de Eric Olson, comandante del Comando Especial de Operaciones- y el año pasado estuvo en el maratón de la Marina. Él desea competir próximamente en el triatlón Ironman en Hawai y graduarse del curso avanzado de oficiales del Ejército, que adiestra a los capitanes en el arte de conducir tropas y planificar operaciones.

Mullholland dice que Castro -quien recibió la condecoración del Corazón Púrpura como otros soldados heridos en combate- siempre será parte de la familia de las Fuerzas Especiales. “Lucharé por Iván mientras él desee permanecer en el ejército”, aseveró.

Casado y padre de un joven de 14 años, Castro sigue necesitando ayuda para llegar al gimnasio y también una escolta para llegar a la formación. Una vez ahí, toma el mando y estimula a los soldados a ir siempre a dos niveles por encima de lo que se les pide. “En las Fuerzas Especiales -dice- uno debe ir por encima y más allá aun de lo que se le ordena”. Esta idea es también su credo de vida.

“Quiero ser tratado de la misma manera que los otros oficiales”, afirma. “Nunca he deseado que sientan lástima de mí y menos aún que se me dé algo que no me merezca”.

[JCasp]

I hope it's ok that I post here as a Non-QP. I remember clearly when 2LT Castro and 2LT Williams came to our batallion, 1-325. They were exemplary role models for us and really raised the bar. I don't remember what company Cpt Castro went to, but I heard nothing but great responses through the Joe Grapevine about him and the amount of knowledge as well as his tremendous physical ability. I got out about 2 months before our BN left on this deployment. I had not heard about his incident, only the deaths from mortar fire that D co had taken. What an amazing soldier.

When I left Williams was a 1LT and the BN Scout platoon PL, is he back in group now or still in division?

[MFFJM2]

I'm a former member of 7th Special Forces Group, where I served for over 6 years during my 20+ year career in the US Army Special Forces. CPT Castro is an inspiration, and he should be commended for his tough and determined recovery and his desire to stay in the military. Now I'm probably gonna get heat over this, but I'm gonna say it anyway...he should be medically retired. He's incapable of conducting military operations, because he's not medically qualified for service. I appreciate his sacrifice, I really do. But this is really about letting him stay on active duty until he gets his 20, since he's presently at 17. They did the same thing for Dana Bowman some years ago, when Dana was severly injured in a demonstration jump while he was assigned to the Golden Knights. We've had soldiers horribly wounded in every war, and without exception those who were blinded were medically discharged...until now. The US Army has a mission, and the mission comes first.

[The Reaper]

MFFJM:

I disagree with you, but we all have our opinions.

You might want to review your registration message and the board rules and comply before posting again. You seem to have missed a step.

TR

[JJ_BPK]

Originally Posted by MFFJM2

The US Army has a mission, and the mission comes first.

I disagree with your assessment of Cpt Castro as being un-fit for duty.

ALthough the world thinks that military service is a continuous routine of dodging bullets. The fact is few do the shooting and the many do the support.

Cpt Castro, with assistance, could be a contributing asset to the Army, for his total career. He may not lead a fighting unit but there is no reason he can't serve with honor in any of the thousands of support units.

I don't think he SEE's an alternative, other than serving with Honor.

And that I admire greating...


My $00.00002

[blue02hd]

Originally Posted by MFFJM2

I'm a former member of 7th Special Forces Group, where I served for over 6 years during my 20+ year career in the US Army Special Forces. CPT Castro is an inspiration, and he should be commended for his tough and determined recovery and his desire to stay in the military. Now I'm probably gonna get heat over this, but I'm gonna say it anyway...he should be medically retired. He's incapable of conducting military operations, because he's not medically qualified for service. I appreciate his sacrifice, I really do. But this is really about letting him stay on active duty until he gets his 20, since he's presently at 17. They did the same thing for Dana Bowman some years ago, when Dana was severly injured in a demonstration jump while he was assigned to the Golden Knights. We've had soldiers horribly wounded in every war, and without exception those who were blinded were medically discharged...until now. The US Army has a mission, and the mission comes first.

So in other words you are saying Admiral Olsen, (who approved Ivans assignment) and Col Mulhalland are incorrect in their decision to assign Ivan to his C-Team? I have a feeling they know the regs just as well as anyone else. I guess they could be wrong, but I also bet you haven't met Ivan.

I have served with Ivan personally both in and out of the box. I disagree with your assessment, but respect your opinion. Nothing personal brother, but if the example Ivan demonstrates everyday brings the reality home to either a BTDT OR 18X, then I would have to say the Commanders got this one right.

Regulations don't win wars, soldiers do.

[gksweeney22]

Had the honor to meet him today. What an inspiration.

[Sweetbriar]

Update via Powerline.

"How did the whole country become Lenny Bruce-ified?"

[Dan]

SF officer, blinded in Iraq, graduates MCCC

By Gina Cavallaro - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Dec 24, 2009 13:15:38 EST

Capt. Ivan Castro lost his eyesight in Iraq to a spray of hot shrapnel from an 82mm mortar round that landed five feet from his position on a rooftop.

It’s been a long three years since that Sept. 2, 2006 attack, which killed two of his soldiers, and Castro never thought he’d survive his wounds.

But on Dec. 15, Castro, a 21-year veteran of the Army, graduated from the Maneuver Captains Career Course at Fort Benning, Ga., and will soon report to his new assignment as operations officer in Special Forces Recruiting Battalion at Fort Bragg, N.C., according to an Army news release.

When Castro was an enlisted soldier, he was assigned to 7th Special Forces Group.

At the time of the mortar attack southwest of Baghdad, Castro, a first lieutenant at the time, was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division and was a sniper reconnaissance platoon leader.

The mortar caused Castro a bilateral aneurysm, collapsed lung, pulmonary embolism, bone fractures and a nicked artery, in addition to the blindness.

Following his rehabilitation at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., which helped him to adjust to life without sight, and eventually run in the Marine Corps Marathon, he returned to 7th Group.

Throughout his life-changing transition, Castro insisted he not be treated differently, Lt. Col. Fredrick Dummar said in the release.

Dummar worked with Castro at the 7th Special Forces Group and attended his MCCC graduation.

“It was critical for him to attend MCCC,” said Dummar, commander of Special Operations Recruiting Battalion. “You can’t stay on active duty as a captain without it. It would’ve been not only a fight to keep him on active duty with his injuries, but also to keep him on active duty without attending a mandatory school.”

Dummar said in the release that because Castro was a Special Forces soldier and wanted to remain on active duty, his case was reviewed.

“We saw what his potential still was instead of what he can’t do,” Dummar said. “He may not be able to do every job in the Army, but by doing the job he can do, he’s freeing up someone who can see to be doing something else.”

To keep up in classes, Castro said in the release, he used a voice recorder and computer screen-reading software.

Castro enlisted his roommate, Capt. Gerard Torres, as a running buddy to ensure he kept on the track during physical training.

Torres, who attended the Infantry Officer Basic Course with Castro in 2005, said Castro has been an inspiration to him. “We’ve laughed so hard and hated each other like brothers,” Torres said. “The things he’s taught me since the time I’ve known him are invaluable. Sometimes you sit there and start feeling bad for yourself, and then you look over, and there’s Ivan, running 20 miles.”

I'm glad everybody is being nice about their opinions and all, but there is only a part of this story being told for whatever reason...maybe folks don't know the whole deal(?). It's not my place to tell it, so I will refrain, but as in most cases where people's OPINIONS are at odds, there is at least one side that doesn't have all of the information.

There is a tremendous difference in SF and all other military units. There is a reason retention in SF units is higher than in other units even among support troops. That reason is evident here...we take care of our own. Look at the non-tabbers commenting...enough said.

The short of it is that Castro has been given a chance to continue to serve and to be productive. Whatever your piddly OPINIONS are about why he shouldn't be allowed to serve are obviously pointless because he IS serving and doing great things, continuing mission in spite of obstacles to daily living that none of you can even begin to comprehend. Instead of taking it easy, getting fat in a wheelchair with a guide dog towing him around, he is still soldiering on.

With that in mind, further "he shouldn't be serving because..." input should cease, being that it cannot contribute anything more to this thread than has already been stated repeatedly from that corner. It's not only pointless, but ignorant. We've heard your side and he is still on active duty and he is going to stay there and your opinions aren't going to change that, so please spare us.

It's a damn good thing the decision to keep him in was made by someone with some freakin loyalty to a brother-in-arms and not you people with the conventional turd burglar follow the regs mindset.

[The Reaper]

Let me add that Ivan was a former enlisted SF soldier who was in the 82nd when he was injured.

7th Group brought him over and gave him a job that he could do and freed up another Captain to stay on a team, in the fight.

It is what brother warriors do for one another.

TR

[mcmac61]

I am proud to have worked and served with Ivan back in 3/7th SFG (A). He is a great guy and it is always a good feeling to see someone who is well deserved get promoted.