Operation Iraqi Freedom, Fallen Heroes, Iraq War 03/19/03

Andrew J Castro

Westlake Village, California

August 28, 2010

Age Military Rank Unit/Location
20 Army Spc

2nd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)

Fort Campbell, Kentucky

 Killed in Babur, Afghanistan, when insurgents attacked their unit with an improvised explosive device.

From The Fort Campbell Courier fortcampbellcourier.com 09/02/10:

Specialist Andrew J. Castro
Posted: Thursday, September 2, 2010 4:14 pm
Media Release
Two 101st Airborne Division Soldiers were killed Aug. 28, when their unit was attacked with an improvised explosive device while on patrol in Babur, Afghanistan.
Sergeant Patrick K. Durham, 24, of Chattanooga, Tenn., was a cannon crewmember assigned to Bravo Battery, 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team. He entered the Army in August 2006 and arrived at Fort Campbell January 2007.
His awards and decorations include: Army Commendation Medal; Army Achievement Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Iraqi Campaign Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Army Service Medal; Overseas Service Medal and Weapons Qualification: M4, expert.
Durham is survived by his wife, Christina A. Durham, and son, Alijah K. of Fort Campbell; a son, Jordan G. Allison of Dunlap, Tenn.; daughter, Cheyenne A. N. Fox of Chattanooga, Tenn.; and father, Sammy K. Durham also of Chattanooga.
Specialist Andrew J. Castro, 20, of Westlake Village, Calif., was a human intelligence collector assigned to Company B, 2nd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team. He entered the Army in June 2008 and arrived at Fort Campbell in February 2009.
His awards and decorations include: Meritorious Unit Citation; National Defense Service Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Army Service Ribbon and Weapons Qualification: M249, expert.
Castro is survived by his father, Hector Castro, of Winnetka, Calif., and his mother, Carmen Roman, of Westlake Village, Calif.
In a separate incident, a 101st Airborne Division Soldier died Saturday when insurgents attacked Forward Operating Base Boris in the Bermal district, Paktika province, Afghanistan.
Sergeant James. C. Robinson, 27, of Lebanon, Ohio, was an infantryman assigned to Company A, 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team. He joined the Army in February 2005 and arrived at Fort Campbell in November 2005.
His awards and decorations include: Bronze Star; Purple Heart; Army Commendation Medal; Army Good Conduct Medal; Army Service Ribbon; National Defense Service Medal; Afghanistan Campaign Medal; Iraq Campaign Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Overseas Service Ribbon; NATO Medal; Combat Infantry Badge; and Weapons Qualification: M4, expert.
Robinson is survived by his wife, Kathryn E. Robinson, daughter, Victoria A. Robinson and step-daughter, Emily B. Cable, all of Fort Campbell; parents, James R. and Kimberly Robinson, both of Middletown, Ohio.
In a separate incident, two 101st Airborne Division Soldiers died Sunday, when their Mine Resistant Ambush Protected All-terrain vehicle was struck by a rocket propelled grenade while on patrol in Babur, Afghanistan.
Captain Ellery R. Wallace, 33, of Salt Lake City, Utah, was a Cavalry officer commanding Troop B, 1st Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team. He entered the Army in August 2003 and arrived at Fort Campbell in May 2009.
His awards and decorations include: Army Commendation Medal; Army Commendation Medal with Valor; Valorous Unit Award; National Defense Service Medal; Iraqi Campaign Service Medal; Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Humanitarian Service Medal; Army Service Ribbon; Overseas Service Ribbon; and Combat Action Badge.
Wallace is survived by his wife, Janelle L. Wallace and children, Liam, Adara, Kael and Ehlana, all of Clarksville, Tenn.; and parents, Elton D. and Elaine B. Wallace, both of Elkhart, Texas.
Private 1st Class Bryn T. Raver, 20, of Harrison, Ark., was a military policeman assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team. He entered the Army in February 2008 and arrived at Fort Campbell in August 2008.
His awards and decorations include: Meritorious Unit Citation; National Defense Service Medal; Afghanistan Campaign Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Army Service Ribbon; NATO Medal, and Weapons Qualification: M4, expert.
Raver is survived by his wife, Pvt. Kellie S. Raver of Fort Lewis, Wa.; daughter Elisha N. Raver of Harrison Ark.; and father, Charles B. Raver of Harrison, Ark.
In another incident, two 101st Airborne Division Soldiers died Friday, when a command-wired improvised explosive device was detonated near their vehicle during convoy operations in the Paktiya province, Afghanistan.
Both Soldiers were assigned to B Troop, 1st Squadron, 33rd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team.
Specialist Chad Derek Coleman, 20, of Moreland, Ga., entered the Army in October 2008 and arrived at Fort Campbell in March 2009.
Coleman was a Cavalry Scout whose awards and decorations include: Army Good Conduct Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Afghanistan Campaign Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Army Service Ribbon; NATO Medal and Weapons Qualification: M4, expert.
Coleman is survived by his parents, Brian P. and Shanon C. Coleman, both of Moreland, Ga. 
Private Adam J. Novak, 20, of Prairie Du Sac, Wis., entered the Army in September 2009 and arrived at Fort Campbell in January 2010. 
Novak was an Infantryman whose awards and decorations include: Army Good Conduct Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Afghanistan Campaign Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Army Service Ribbon; NATO Medal; Combat Infantryman Badge and Weapons Qualification: M4, expert.
Novak is survived by his wife, Celeste N. Novak, of Moorehead, Minn. and his mother, Susan K. Block, of Prairie Du Sac, Wis.
A memorial service will be held for the fallen in Afghanistan. Fort Campbell also holds a monthly Eagle Remembrance Ceremony. The next ceremony will be held Sept. 8 at 4 p.m.

Wednesday, September 1, 2010
CA – Spc. Andrew J. Castro

09/01/2010 GAAS:556:10 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Governor Schwarzenegger Issues Statement on Death of Westlake Village Soldier 

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today issued the following statement regarding the death of Spc. Andrew J. Castro of Westlake Village, CA: 

“The death of Specialist Andrew Castro is a sad and sobering reminder of the dangers our men and women in uniform face each day to protect our freedoms. The great courage he displayed in the line of duty is an example of true patriotism. As they mourn the loss of this outstanding soldier, Maria and I extend our thoughts and prayers to Andrew’s family and loved ones.” 

Castro, 20, died August 28 in Babur, Afghanistan of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 2nd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, KY. 

In honor of Spc. Castro, Capitol flags will be flown at half-staff.

Source: gov.ca.gov/press-release/15912/

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