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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 876
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In Memory |
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of |
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John Paul Castro |
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WHEREAS, The friends and family of United States Army |
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Sergeant John Paul Castro suffered an immeasurable loss with the |
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death of this valiant soldier on April 22, 2011, at the age of 25; |
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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; |
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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 |
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and 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 of 2006 and served two tours of duty in Iraq, |
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where he was twice awarded the Purple Heart; among numerous |
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decorations, he also received the Bronze Star, Army Commendation |
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Medal with Valor device, National Defense Service Medal, |
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Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on |
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Terrorism Service Medal, North Atlantic Treaty Organization |
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Medal, and Combat Infantryman Badge; and |
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WHEREAS, Devoted to his loved ones, Sergeant Castro shared |
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a rewarding relationship with his wife, Delia, and took great |
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pride in his daughter, Natalia, and stepson, Kamren Shaw |
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Buchholz; he gallantly expressed his love for his mother by |
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turning up at her workplace in uniform and with a dozen roses as |
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soon as he got home on breaks, and he enjoyed eating the Mexican |
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food she prepared for him and spending time with his extended |
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family, whether simply relaxing or helping with a difficult task; |
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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 |
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the United States armed forces, and his fellow citizens owe him a |
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debt of gratitude that the passage of time can never diminish; |
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now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 82nd |
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Legislature, hereby pay tribute to the life of United States Army |
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Sergeant John Paul Castro and extend condolences to his bereaved |
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family: his wife, Delia Butas Castro; his daughter, Natalia |
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Marie Castro; his stepson, Kamren Shaw Buchholz; his mother, |
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Carmen Castro; his father, David Castro, Sr.; his sister, Blanca |
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Castro Thakker; his brother, David Castro, Jr.; and his many |
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other relatives and friends; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for |
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his family as an expression of deepest sympathy, and that when |
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the Senate adjourns this day, it do so in memory of John Castro. |
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| Birdwell |
Harris |
Rodriguez |
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| Deuell |
Huffman |
Van de Putte |
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| Gallegos |
Patrick |
Zaffirini |
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Dewhurst, President of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that the |
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above Resolution was adopted by |
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the Senate on April 29, 2011, by a |
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rising vote. |
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________________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |