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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The friends and family of U.S. Army Sergeant John |
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Paul Castro suffered an immeasurable loss with the death of this |
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valiant soldier on April 22, 2011, at the age of 25; and |
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WHEREAS, Assigned to the 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry |
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Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, |
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Sergeant Castro was mortally wounded while bravely supporting |
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Operation Enduring Freedom in Paktika Province in Afghanistan; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Andrews on January 20, 1986, John Paul |
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Castro was the son of David Castro, Sr., and Carmen Armendariz |
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Castro; he played tuba in the band at Andrews High School and |
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excelled at baseball, bringing home numerous trophies; after his |
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graduation in 2004, he enlisted in the army with his best friend and |
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headed off to boot camp the next month; and |
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WHEREAS, Sergeant Castro was posted to Fort Campbell in |
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Kentucky in January 2006 and served two tours of duty in Iraq, where |
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he was twice awarded the Purple Heart; among numerous decorations, |
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he also received the Bronze Star, Army Commendation Medal with |
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Valor device, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign |
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Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, |
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North Atlantic Treaty Organization Medal, and Combat Infantryman |
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Badge; and |
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WHEREAS, Devoted to his loved ones, Sergeant Castro shared a |
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rewarding relationship with his wife, Delia, and took great pride |
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in his daughter, Natalia, and stepson, Kamren Shaw Buchholz; he |
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gallantly expressed his love for his mother by turning up at her |
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workplace in uniform and with a dozen roses as soon as he got home on |
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breaks, and he enjoyed eating the Mexican food she prepared for him |
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and spending time with his extended family, whether simply relaxing |
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or helping with a difficult task; and |
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WHEREAS, John Paul Castro was unwavering in his courage and |
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dedication to duty and honor; he embodied the highest ideals of the |
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United States armed forces, and his fellow citizens owe him a debt |
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of gratitude that the passage of time can never diminish; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of U.S. Army Sergeant |
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John Paul Castro and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his |
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family: to his wife, Delia Butas Castro; to his daughter, Natalia |
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Marie Castro; to his stepson, Kamren Shaw Buchholz; to his mother, |
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Carmen Castro; to his father, David Castro, Sr.; to his sister, |
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Blanca Castro Thakker; to his brother, David Castro, Jr.; and to his |
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many other relatives and friends; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of U.S. Army |
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Sergeant John Paul Castro. |