World War II Honoree

Luis Castillo

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Laredo, Texas

Honored By

Douglas M. Alford, USN

AT THE AGE OF 24, HE WAS DRAFTED INTO THE MILITARY AND WAS SWORN IN ON NOVEMBER 24, 1942 AT FORT SAM HOUSTON, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. HE COMPLETED BASIC TRAINING THERE AND WAS IMMEDIATELY ASSIGNED TO BATTERY C, 929TH FIELD ARTILLERY UNIT. HIS SPECIALTY WAS TRUCK DRIVER. IN THIS POSITION HE USUALLY TOWED A 105 HOWITZER ARTILLERY WEAPON. HE ALSO QUALIFIED IN SMALL ARMS, AND RIFLE. AFTER TRAINING HE WAS SHIPPED OUT ON A TROOP SHIP FOR NORTH AFRICA TO PREPARE FOR THE INVASION OF SICILY AND ITALY. AFTER THE BATTLE, UP TO AND INCLUDING ANZIO, HIS BATTALION WAS TRANSFERRED TO SOUTHERN FRANCE WHERE HE FOUGHT UP THROUGH FRANCE AND CAUGHT UP WITH GENERAL PATTON'S 3RD ARMY TO FIGHT INTO THE GERMAN HEARTLAND. HE WAS HEAVILY INVOLVED IN THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE. HE WAS INJURED IN HIS BACK, KNEE AND HAD LOSS OF HEARING BUT WAS ABLE TO CROSS THE RHINE RIVER INTO AUSTRIA AT THE TIME OF THE SURRENDER OF GERMANY. DUE TO HIS INJURIES HE WAS TREATED IN ENGLAND AND TRANSFERRED BACK TO THE UNITED STATES ON A TROOP SHIP AND LANDED AT NEW YORK CITY. HE RECEIVED ADDITIONAL TREATMENT AND TRANSFERRED TO FORT LEWIS, WASHINGTON WHERE HE WAS RELEASED FROM ACTIVE DUTY. HE WAS PLACED ON A TROOP TRAIN TO FORT SAM HOUSTON IN SAN ANTONIO AND THEN TO HIS HOMETOWN OF LAREDO. DURING HIS TOUR HE RECEIVED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN THEATER MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN SERVICE MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND HONORABLE DISCHARGE LAPEL BUTTON. HE WAS DECLARED DISABLED DUE TO HIS INJURIES BUT HE WAS VERY PROUD OF HIS SERVICE TO THE COUNTRY.