Castro, John Paul
Male
Verified U.S. Army Sergeant John Paul Castro, 25, of Andrews, Texas, died on April 22, 2011, at Forward Operating Base Sharana in Afghanistan's Paktika province.
Their Story
John Paul Castro grew up in Andrews, Texas, a small city in the western part of the state. He served as an infantryman with Company D, 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, based at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
On April 22, 2011, Sergeant Castro was killed by enemy small arms fire while on guard duty at Forward Operating Base Sharana in Paktika province, according to U.S. Department of Defense casualty reports. The base, located near the border with Pakistan, was a frequent target for insurgent attacks.
His death occurred during Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan that began in October 2001. In 2011, U.S. troop levels were near their peak following a surge ordered by President Barack Obama in 2009, with forces engaged in intense counterinsurgency operations in eastern provinces like Paktika.
Castro's body was returned to the United States. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, and Meritorious Service Medal. His funeral was held in Andrews, Texas.
Sergeant Castro is memorialized on the Andrews County Veterans Memorial and on online veterans' memorials. His name is included on the casualty lists maintained by the Defense Casualty Analysis System.
Explore Further
Sgt. John Paul Castro was killed during Operation Enduring Freedom (2001?2014). The conflict concluded in December 2014. See the full roster of those killed in this conflict.
Among those documented in the same conflict: Andrews, Evander Earl, Edmunds, Jonn Joseph, Stonesifer, Kristofor Tif, Davis, Bryant Leroy.
