[nabs-l] Blind ambition: U.S. Army's only blind Special Forces officer set to inspire at Huntington ISD's Veterans Day event

[Alberto Arreola]

I think that is very cool he hasn't given up.

-----Original Message-----
From: nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Darian Smith
Sent: Thursday, November 12, 2009 2:51 PM
To: cabs-talk; Nabs-l at nfbnet.org
Subject: [nabs-l] Blind ambition: U.S. Army's only blind Special Forces
officer set to inspire at Huntington ISD's Veterans Day event

I found  this to be  fitting considering the  most recent holiday.  I
hope you  enjoy and  great discussion comes from this.
 Darian


Blind ambition: U.S. Army's only blind Special Forces officer set to
inspire at Huntington ISD's Veterans Day event

By
ASHLEY COOK
The Lufkin Daily News

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

An exploding mortar from Iraqi insurgents may have robbed him of his
sight, but it didn't darken U.S. Army Capt. Ivan Castro's clear vision
of his future.

The only blind member in active duty with Special Forces, he is one of
a handful of blind active duty soldiers in the entire country. Castro,
who among
other things runs marathons and advocates for rehabilitation services
in addition to his career with Special Forces, will be sharing his
story - his determination
to never quit - as an inspiration to others at the Veterans Day
program at 10 a.m. today at Huntington High School.

U.S. Army Capt. Ivan Castro is the only blind member of Special
Forces. Injured in a mortar attack in Iraq in 2006, he has since run a
number of marathons
and advocated for better rehabilitation services for the blind while
also serving in active duty. He is the keynote speaker at today's
Veterans Day event
at Huntington High School.

And making the event even more meaningful, Castro will be reuniting
with several of his brothers in arms as several members of his platoon
are flying in
for the program.

In September 2006, Castro was serving in Iraq as a first lieutenant.
During a battle with insurgents, a mortar round exploded a few feet
from him, killing
two men and injuring Castro. Shrapnel tore through his body, damaging
his shoulder, breaking his arm, fracturing facial bones and collapsing
his lungs,
according to a narrative written by Tony Santiago.

Sgt. Travis Womack, now serving as a U.S. Army recruiter in Lufkin,
was there the day in Iraq when Castro was injured.

"He was my personal lieutenant. I was there when he got blinded in
combat," Womack said.

In a special reunion, most of Castro's platoon will be flying in from
all over the country to attend the ceremony in Huntington, Womack
said.

"It's going to be awesome. I've only seen him once since that day. For
most of the guys, it's the same way," Womack said. "The last time we
saw him was
in the helicopter. They day we got back from deployment he was there,
and it was pretty cool."

Shortly after his injuries in Iraq, Castro was stateside again at a
U.S. Naval hospital in Maryland. He had a finger amputated due to
extensive blast damage.
His right eye was blown away, and he had metal fragments in his left.

"Doctors questioned whether Castro would make it through another
week," Santiago wrote.

Two months after his injury, he was in a hospital bed with no idea of
what to do next, when he overheard a doctor and nurse discussing two
upcoming military
marathons. That's when he decided to make running both of them his
goal. Since then, he has completed both, and more.

"Since then, he's been determined to stay in the Army and find a way
to serve. He went back to Special Forces, and he's run the Boston
Marathon, the Marine
Marathon, among others. The Bataan (Memorial) Death March (Marathon) -
a 26-mile road march," Womack said.

Castro's motto is, "I'll never quit," according to Womack.

Castro was promoted to captain in April 2007. He continues to run
marathons, and serves as executive officer of the 7th Special Forces
Group at Fort Bragg.
Additionally, he and his wife, Evelyn, support and participate in
sporting events hosted by the Blinded Veterans Association.

Castro is an advocate for rehabilitation funding for the blind, and
has visited members of Congress in his quest, according to Santiago.

Castro has numerous awards and decorations, including the Purple
Heart, Army Commendation and Meritorious Service medals. He was
awarded a plaque in Braille
at the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center in Augusta, Ga., thanking him
for his continued service.

The event today begins at 10 a.m. and is open to the community. Emcee
is Danny Merrell, from KYKS 105. Veterans are invited to arrive at 9
a.m. for coffee
and registration. Valet parking is offered to arriving veterans.
Veterans are invited to stay for a complimentary meal after the event.

Huntington ISD Superintendent Eric Wright said the program is one of
the district's signature events, because it includes their No. 1
mission of producing
high quality, productive citizens, and gives the district and the
community an opportunity to thank veterans and active duty military
"for their sacrifices
which have allowed all of us to enjoy the freedoms we have and to live
in the greatest country in the world."

The district is able through the event to integrate patriotism along
with history, fine arts, graphic design and more into its curriculum.

"Our soldiers and former soldiers are our heroes and for at least one
day per year, we get to express our appreciation," Wright said.

Wright thanked J'Nelle Short, program coordinator, for her hard work
and dedication to the event, for making a program that seems better
and better each
year. Wright added that he was pleased the students will have an
opportunity to listen to Castro, a decorated veteran who is an
inspiration with such a
"can-do" spirit.


-- 
"And if you will join me in this improbable quest, if you feel destiny
calling, and see as I see, a future of endless possibility stretching
before us;
if you sense, as I sense, that the time is now to shake off our
slumber, and slough off our fear, and make good on the debt we owe
past and future generations,
then I'm ready to take up the cause, and march with you, and work with
you. Together, starting today, let us finish the work that needs to be
done, and
usher in a new birth of freedom on this Earth."- Baraq Obama

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