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NEWS | Sept. 13, 2015

Memorial service honors fallen Army Reserve Soldier

By Staff Sgt. Shawn Morris 99th Regional Support Command

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. – The Army Reserve’s 404th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne) held a memorial service to honor one of its own Sept. 13 at Sharp Field here.

Spc. Carlos Del Castillo, a Soldier with the 404th’s Bravo Company, died Aug. 22 due to injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident.

“As his company commander, I was honored to lead such an outstanding Soldier,” said Capt. Ronald Roberts, Bravo Company commander. “He was truly imbued with the warrior spirit and continually strived to prove himself; he never failed in the performance of a mission.”

Del Castillo, a 23-year-old native of Ewing, New Jersey, is one of more than 70 Soldiers to lose their lives in 400 motor vehicle accidents during the past year, according to data released by the U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center.

“Spc. Del Castillo was an expert in his craft, a highly experienced and proficient civil affairs operator,” Roberts said. “He had a can-do attitude and a friendly, upbeat personality, and was a company favorite, always volunteering for the tough missions or tasks.”

Published numbers also show that almost 340 Army personnel suffered non-fatal injuries in these accidents, resulting in partial and total permanent disabilities in some cases.

“People are our most valuable resource,” Roberts continued. “Even though he is gone, Specialist Del Castillo continues to be a shining example for us all. Bravo Company will not easily recover from his loss.”

For more motor vehicle safety information and resources, visit https://safety.army.mil.