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

[Jedi]

He was at Convention this last year in Detroit. He did speak.

Respectfully,
Jedi


Original message:
> I wonder if anyone has told him about the NFB. I would love to hear
> him speak in general session at convention.

> Domonique

> On 11/12/09, Alberto Arreola <alberto.2500 at gmail.com> wrote:
>> 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

>> _______________________________________________
>> nabs-l mailing list
>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> nabs-l:
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/alberto.2500%40gmail
>> .com


>> _______________________________________________
>> nabs-l mailing list
>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> nabs-l:
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/dlawless86%40gmail.com


> _______________________________________________
> nabs-l mailing list
> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nabs-l:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/loneblindjedi%40samobile.net

-- 
Email services provided by the System Access Mobile Network.  Visit 
www.serotek.com to learn more about accessibility anywhere.