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PHOTO CAPTIONS:

Captain Daniel Castillo, US Army. Left Picture above.
As a high school student he heard Roy Benavidez speak and was inspired to join the Special Forces. Photo courtesy of Daniel Castillo.

Parachute Jump Training. Center left picture above.
Daniel Castillo at the Army's Parachute training school at Ft. Benning, Georgia. US Army photo.

Anti Drug Operations. Center right picture above.
Daniel Castillo was assigned to training South American military forces to fight the "war against drugs" Photo courtesy of Daniel Castillo.

Medically Retired. Right picture above.
Daniel Castillo, left, with Roy Benavidez. Castillo was hit from behind by an unknown attacker while deployed in the jungles of Central America, severely damaging his spinal cord. Roy Benavidez continued to be an inspiration and close friend to Castillo during his recovery and adjustment to his injuries. Photo courtesy of Daniel Castillo.

Historical Preservationist and Patriotic Speaker

Daniel Castillo was medically retired from the Special Forces in 1987 after being injured in the line of duty in the "drug war." He has dedicated the years since his retirement to preserving the history of American's heroes. He has built an extensive private collection of militaria that includes many items donated to him by Medal of Honor recipients or their families including uniforms, medals, and memorabilia.

Castillo tours the nation exhibiting his collection at schools, veterans events, and other functions. Daniel Castillo is an historian and educator. His activities have made him expert as an archivist, militaria preservationist, and patriotic speaker with a focus on preserving the legacy of American Valor.

Father of the Regiment. Left Picture above. From the left Daniel Castillo, Colonel Aaron Bank, US Army, retired. Col. Bank, a veteran of special operations in WWII, was the first commanding officer of the Special Forces and is considered the "Father of the Regiment." Photo courtesy of Daniel Castillo.

Kiet Nguyen - US Navy Cross Recipient. Right picture above. Daniel Castillo, left, with Kiet Nguyen, Vietnamese Navy SEAL. Nguyen and Tom Norris, US Navy, rescued USAF pilot Col. Iceal "Gene" Hambleton, call sign "Bat 21." Norris was awarded the Medal of Honor and Kiet was awarded the Navy Cross for the their daring rescue of Hambleton. Kiet Nguyen is the only Vietnamese to be awarded a service cross, America's second highest award for valor in combat. Photo courtesy of Daniel Castillo.

DANIEL CASTILLO - RESUME

SUMMARY

Born September 10, 1961, in La Mesa, Texas, Daniel Castillo grew up in the small West Texas Town of Denver City. Upon graduation from college he entered the United States Army as a 2nd Lt. and became a member of the Special Forces. He was severely injured in 1987 during a special covert assignment with U.S. Army 7th Special Forces Group Airborne in Central America. In 1988, he was medically retired as a quadriplegic with one hundred percent Service-Connected In The Line of Duty Disability. He has dedicated his years since his injury to public service. He assists newly injured people adjust to permanent paralysis and participates in many activities that strive to assist disabled veterans. He lecturers and writes on military history, and he travels to schools to promote patriotism, encouraging the study of military history to give students and understanding of the price of their freedom.

EL CASTILLO MILITARIA MUSEUM

Military Exhibits Available To Schools & Military Groups
Exhibits & Lectures of 19-20th Century Military History
Promoting Patriotism
Encouraging The Study Of Military History

UNITED STATES ARMY SERVICE

1982 Commissioned as U.S. Army Reserve Officer, 2Lt., 49th Armor Division Tank, Company Gunnery Award 1983, Selected to Regular Army 1984, Special Forces 2-mile run, Undefeated Champ 1986-87

Decorations: Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Overseas Ribbon, U.S. Army Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, Honduran Parachutist Badge, Army Service Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster

Military Education: Nuclear Biological Chemical Warfare Course, Survival Escape Resistance, Evasion Course, Honduran Army Parachutist Instructor
Counter-Insurgency Course, Army's Special Forces Qualification "Q" Course, Airborne Qualified (Master Parachutist), U.S. Army Chemical Officer Basic Course, Chilean Mountain Ranger Qualified (rarely awarded to U.S. Soldiers), Commander of U.S. Army Airborne School, Ft. Bragg, N.C., Armor Course (M-60A3 Tank Platoon Leader) Honduran Army Pathfinder Instructor

COMMUNITY SERVICE

Sustained Service Award New Mexico Military Institute 1992
Department of Army Certificate of Meritorious Achievement 4th R.O.T.C.
Region 1993 Leadership Award
Veterans of Foreign War Outstanding Achievement Award 1994
County of Orange California Outstanding Veteran Award 1999
United States Postal Service Outstanding Hispanic Award 1999
The Alamo Silver Wings Airborne Association Community Service Congressman Frank Tejeda’s Award 2000

EMPLOYMENT & ACTIVITIES

US Army Special Forces. Army Officer, 7th Special Forces Group Airborne, Chemical Corp., 49th Armor Division) 1982-87.
Director and Curator, Lt. Gen. Douglas L. McBride Museum, New Mexico Military Institute, Roswell, NM 1990-92
Board of Directors of the Association of Retarded Citizens of Albuquerque (a non-profit group) 1993-94
Special Forces Association 1992-95 - Newsletter Editor and Secretary
Advocate for homeless Veterans 1992-95
Motivate newly injured people 1988-2001
Veterans Against Violence and Drugs 1999-2001 - Program Speaker
Paralyzed Veterans of America Wheelchair Games, Puerto Rico Bronze Medalist 1999
Paralyzed Veterans of America Winter Wheelchair Games, Crested Butte, Colorado, Medalist 2000
Wheelchair Motorized Rally 2000, Gold Medalist Air Riffle
Paralyzed Veterans of America Wheelchair Games held in San Antonio, TX, Bronze Medalist
Congressional Medal of Honor Society. Medal of Honor Exhibitor at CMOHS Conventions 1994, 1999, 2000, 2002
Veteranos Play Lobby Exhibitor, 2002

ASSOCIATIONS

Special Forces Association
Medal of Honor Historical Society
Retired Officer's Association
Veterans of Foreign War
Disabled American Veterans
The Military Order of World Wars
82nd Airborne Association
National Eagle Scout Association
Alamo Silver Wings Airborne Association
Angelo State University Alumni Association
Paralyzed Veterans of America
New Mexico Military Institute Alumni Association

EDUCATION

COLLEGE: New Mexico Military Institute, Junior College, Associate of Arts
Angelo State University, Bachelor of Science, Major in Biology, Minor in Chemistry. Awards: R.O.T.C. Association of Military Colleges & Schools (R.O.T.C. 2nd Region Advance Camp Honor Graduate 1982) - 1980-82 R.O.T.C. Distinguished Military Student (Top 10%) - 1984 R.O.T.C. Distinguished Military Graduate (Awarded only to top 10% of U.S. R.O.T.C.) - 1982 R.O.T.C. AMVET Award Lt. Joe Gavin Outstanding Platoon Leader - 1980-81 National Eagle Scout College Scholarship Award - A.S.U. Track Team

High School: 1977-80 DCHS Honor Roll Student
1977 First Hispanic Boy Scouts of America, Eagle Scout in Troop 777
1977 Boy Scouts of America translator for Peruvian Scouts
1980 America's Who's Who Outstanding High School Students
1980, Denver City High School 800 Meter Run Record Holder
1980 Outstanding, District AA West Texas Football Receiver