July 4, 2011
My dear fellow Silver Spurs,
On this special day in our nation’s history, its 235 birthday (if I have calculated correctly), I want to wish you the best that I can send your way. It will not necessarily be a happy day for some of us, for whatever reasons, but we should remember its significance and the cost at which it was made possible.
The most difficult times in the lives of most commanders are those brief moments of horror at the loss of their people, followed by long periods of sadness – frequently never ending. In my case the darkest hour was in 1967 at Fort Knox when I witnessed the instant deaths of 10 of our people and the unbearable injuries of eleven more. Next came the loss in Vietnam in late 1967 of McNair and Mehl, which I observed from overhead. The last casualty of the 1967 accident was Jim Longworth. We grieve all losses, but those training and combat related are especially sad because none of them had to happen.
Yet, it is because in large measure that those losses and their sacrifices and the sacrifices of their families have made this day possible.
And, although not Troop related, I have gone down into the valley yet again, with the loss in Afghanistan, along the Pakistan border, of my grandson-in-law, another of our nation’s best. He died a hero’s death, leading his platoon while under attack from the front and both sides. He died minutes after being wounded, with his transmitter in his hand, calling in fire support for his beleaguered platoon. My granddaughter, at a Headquarters only a few miles away, heard it all on the radio.
Anyone interested can get more information on the battle by googling his name, 1LT Dimitri del Castillo. His death was on 25 June and the burial will be at West Point on this Friday, 8 July. If anyone living in the neighborhood should attend, please look me up.
Again, all the best on this special day to all of you.
Silver Spur 6, Dec 1966-Mar 1968
1LT Dimitri A. Del Castillo - Courtesy of West Point.org
1LT Dimitri A. Del Castillo USA (KIA) – West Point.org
DOD Identifies Army Casualties – 28 Jun 2011
Update 5 July 2011:
Thanks to fellow Spur, Gary Swartz, he found the following posted on Troop Scoop:
Love, Life and the Price of Independence
NANGARHAR PROVINCE – As Americans prepare to celebrate the country’s independence, July 4, they often take time to think about the men and women who protect and defend that independence — the men and women who lay down their lives, and their loved ones who sacrifice along with them.
Perhaps no one understands that sacrifice better than the friends and family of 1st Lt. Dimitri Del Castillo. A 2009 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Del Castillo died when his unit, the Hawaii-based 2nd Bn, conducted a massive counter-insurgency op in the Watahpur District of Kunar prov. He was just 24 years old, a newlywed and just starting his career as an infantryman.
The news reached his bride just minutes after his death. She was just a few miles away at an FOB in Jalalabad. Army 1st Lt. Kathleen Pulliam, or Katie as her friends know her, met Del Castillo during summer training after their Plebe (freshman) year at West Point. The academy wasn’t the most conventional place to start their story, but there was nothing conventional about them.
“Katie liked Dimitri instantly, but I remember her playing hard to get,” one of Pulliam’s friends, 1st Lt. Theresa Todd, EO of Co E, 1st Bn, 32nd Inf Regt, TF Chosin, 3rd BCT, 10th Mtn Div, TF Spartans, said from an outpost in Kandahar prov. “Of course there were so many male cadets that wanted to date Katie, that I’m sure Dimitri enjoyed winning the competition.”
Things didn’t change for the two, and their feelings only grew stronger despite the gruelling academic curriculum, mandatory events, and rugby practices at West Point. Del Castillo spent the couple’s Cow (junior) year of school studying abroad in Spain, but the distance only fortified the ever-growing bond the two shared, Pulliam recounted. She started every day in New York with a call from Spain.
Just before graduation, Todd sat with Pulliam at a restaurant in nearby Central Valley, N.Y., where they talked about their future. “Katie wanted to be with Dimitri,” said Todd. “She wanted to fulfill her 5-year commitment to the Army, and take care of Dimitri and their kids that she dreamed of having.”
Upon graduation, Del Castillo attended the Army’s Ranger School, and was assigned to Fort Bragg, N.C., with the hopes of a deployment to Afghanistan, while Pulliam was assigned to Schofield Barracks in Hawaii. A few months later, Del Castillo was reassigned to Hawaii where the couple started making plans for their future together.
“I remember Katie and Dimitri took a weekend trip to Maui, where Dimitri proposed during their breakfast on the beach,” recalled 1st Lt. Denise Quigley, 3rd BSTB, TF Bayonet, 3rd BCT, 25th ID, TF Bronco. A classmate and friend of the couple, also serving in Afghanistan with Pulliam, Quigley explained that the 2 started planning their wedding for after their tours in Afghanistan, but were legally married prior to leaving.
Not only proud of her husband and the service to her country, Pulliam recently wrote how she was extremely honored to be part of the dual-military population (both husband and wife actively serving in the military).
“I work late nights with the threat of indirect fire looming in the back of my mind,” she wrote. “I dream of the day when my husband and I can settle down, and I can start having children, but for now that dream is on hold. The Army is about sacrifice, and I know that I am beyond blessed to be able to deploy with my husband.”
Pulliam will never know the future she may have had with Del Castillo. She only has the memories of the life they shared together before the deployment to help her through these painful days. Because of the Global War on Terror, dealing with the loss of friends and classmates has been an unfortunately growing occurrence for West Point graduates; all are required to serve a 5-year term in the Army.
“I remember at school when they’d announce the deaths of the graduates killed in combat,” said Todd. “There was a time our Yuk (sophomore) year where we were observing moments of silence what seemed like every other day. Now, they’re doing moments of silence for our class, for our friends, for the people that we love. West Point taught us everything about our future in the Army, except for the most important thing we need to know – we will never be the same.”
Within hours of being notified of Del Castillo’s passing, Pulliam departed for the U.S. where she will spend the next several days preparing for the arrival of his body, and making arrangements for his memorial.
“The last time I saw my husband was from a helicopter after a memorial ceremony for a fallen soldier in his battalion,” Pulliam explained. “As the helicopter lifted off, he waved and waved until he became so small that I couldn’t see him anymore. Suddenly, my view changed to mud huts, mountains and a giant meandering river. I was gone so quickly, left only with the memories of a 4-hour visit. The vision of him waving will stick with me as long as I live.”
Update 8 Jul 2011:
Pictures from Memorial Service at FOB Joyce in Afghanistan
U.S. Army Major General Daniel B. Allyn, (front) commander of ISAF Regional Command (East) salutes during a memorial ceremony in forward firebase Joyce in Kunar province, July 7, 2011. Four U.S. Army soldiers, Lieutenant Dimitri Del Castillo, Staff Sergeant Nigel Kelly, Specialist Levi Nuncio and Specialist Kevin Hilaman, two Afghan National Army soldiers, an Afghan linguist and Agdar, a military sniffer dog died during operations in Kunar district in the last week of June 2011.
U.S. Army Major General Daniel B. Allyn, commander of ISAF Regional Command (East) takes part during a memorial ceremony in forward firebase Joyce in Kunar province, July 7, 2011.
The dog collar belonging to Agdar, a military sniffer dog who died during operations in Kunar district, is displayed during a memorial ceremony in forward firebase Joyce in Kunar province July 7, 2011.
Dear Nathan, Janet, Katie and family,
Our most heartfelt condolences on the loss of 1LT Dimitri Del Castillo. Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with all of you during your time of immense sorrow…
Just yesterday at the Traveling Wall here in Bellevue, WA we met a Gold Star Mother, Robyn White, who lost her son, Specialist Joseph White who was killed in action as a result of an IED in Omar Zai, Afghanistan on 24 Sep 09.
This war has taken far too many of our best, brightest and beloved who have served our nation with Honor.
God Bless,
Roger & Pam
What a lasting tribute that you have written Nate!! This story reminds us all that war is an inevitable attribute of Man and never seems to stop. I wish you and your family well in dealing with this tragic loss. I agree with Bear about our current wars and I pray that they will end soon.
Nate,
I can find no words that can express the depth of sadness that grips us all when we hear of the loss of another soldier. From our view from the bleachers at FT Knox, or at a distance measured in thousands of miles, these events touch each of us deeply.
Through it all we can gather some comfort in knowing our soldiers are led today, as we were back then, by patriots, gentlemen, men of a very special breed. I am personally grateful that I had the enormous good fortune to serve under your command. I suspect your Dimitri was looked up to and respected just as you were by us all.
Jeff
May God’s peace and comfort be yours and your family during this time of loss. I have never personally suffered any such loss but did lose many friends in Vietnam. I can only offer my heartfelt condolence at your loss but know that you are proud of the service rendered by your grandson-in-law. We are all proud and pray his memory will not be long forgotten.
God bless you and your granddaughter,
Sincerely,
Edward Roffe
One could think that time and aging would soften the blows of losses of our own. I say our own because we are one small but very close family. I somehow never thought that so many distant years could pass and yet still our family of comrades and relatives are as close as they have ever been. The loss of our beloved Nathan Pulliams’s grandson-in-law is as if our own child has been lost. Yet, we take great pride in the fact that the Pulliam family has such a grand tradition of service to preserving this great land. We will all meet once again in the vast skies above. Major (as I most affectionately remember you best), the troop surrounds you in protection in this, you and your families days of grief and loss. We suffer with you and for you. Always your loyal soldier. You lead, we will follow. God rest with you.
I read about your Grandson’s death in the Tampa, Fl newspaper. I am so sorry about your family’s loss, especially your Granddaughter. May God hold all of you in his hands the next several days and grant you some peace.
Nate & Jan,
We were deeply saddened to read your letter concerning your grandson Dimitri. It’s difficult to find comforting words at a time such as this. Know that you, Jan and your grand daughter will be in our prayers. May God comfort you and your family during this tragic loss.
Paul & Cinny
Dear: Colonel you know me I’m the trooper who was burnt over 80% of his torso in the ’67 crash sorry to hear of your loss. But as Gen. Sherman said in the Civil War “War is Hell”. Again I’m truly sorry for your loss.—--Lou Ruchser
I AM VERY SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS. I WILL PUT YOU AND YOUR FAMILY IN THE PRAYER BAG, AND MAY GOD BLESS YOU.
DON QUEHL.
Colonel Pulliam, please accept my condolences on the death of your Grandson.
Every Memorial Day, I think of the brothers that were lost that day in 1967 and, of course, Sgt Mcnair and Mehl In Dec. of that year.
Myself, I just lost my beloved wife Pat, June 10
Doc, my heart goes out to you on the loss of your beloved Pat. Having lost my first wife, Kathie, in Oct ’94, I truly feel your pain.
God bless you my Brother!!!
Nathan and Janet; It is a sad time for you guys and your granddaughter. I hate war. It destroys the good people leaves the bad ones alive. I can only trust in God’s perfect plan for us and cannot understand why these things happen.
Nathan and Janet; You are the best people I know. You are loving and gracious people to all of us Silver Spurs. Even the Troopers who never had the honor to serve under your command love and adore you. I was one of the lucky ones. Nathan you are the finest commander I served with. You cared for us, you worried about us and had to bear the brunt of tragedies before and during Vietnam.
I know this a very dark time for you and Janet. But Nathan please know all of your sons in A Troop are walking the dark valley with you. And there is only one set of footprints in the sand and they are the feet of Jesus carrying you through the Valley of the Shadow of Death. And behind Him are the footprints of a Cavalry Troop know as the Silver Spurs.
Sunday, I will ask my church to have a special prayer time for you and your entire family. God Bless you and give comfort during this difficult time. We all love you Nathan and Janet, so very much that we hurt also.
God Bless You
I respectfully request that my fellow Spurs join me and lower your flags in honor of 1Lt. Dimitri Del Castillo, the Pulliam and the Del Castillo families on Friday, 8 July when Dimitri will be laid to rest at West Point.
Nathan,
My heartfelt sympathies and sadness go to you and your family, especially Katie. You are one of my very favorite cousins, and I am so proud to be related to you and to your wonderful family. You are truly one of my All-American heroes. My thoughts, prayers and love go out to you all. Hope to see you soon. Always enjoy your company and conversation.
Colonel Pulliam,
I did not have the honor of serving under your command in Viet Nam. I was however fortunate and proud to have served as a member of the Silver Spurs. I know of your honor and love and leadership. I have had the priveledge to meet and listen to you speak. Your care for our unit and your love for all of us that served is unmistakeable. Dark days should not follow the lives of you and your family. I along with all my Spur Brothers mourn with you, your wife and your Grandaughter Katie. 1LT Dimitri Del Castillo will not be forgotten. He paid the unltimate price in a war that has robbed too many wives of their husbands, children of their fathers, and Mother and Fathers of their Sons and Daughters. Good Bless you Sir and your family. Your pain is shared by the Spur family you created and have nutured through all these years.