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participants including players, coaches, cheerleaders, families and friends dropped hundreds of flower petals into the waters of Pearl Harbor as they paid tribute. Toner and Castro are graduates of
Westlake who died serving their country during Operation Enduring Freedom. The players came to Hawaii to compete against
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Members with
California's Westlake High School Football Team take a moment of silence to honor Fallen Warriors, including two of their own, U.S. Navy Seabee Lt. j.g. Francis L. Toner IV and U.S. Army Spc. A.J. Castro, during a memorial held at the USS Arizona Memorial Aug. 21. A total of 300
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In his memory, the
Westlake High School football team wore his jersey number 45 and the emblem of the 101st Airborne Division on their helmets. Westlake High honored A.J. Castro during halftime of the football season opener.
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On August 28, 2010, three weeks after arriving in
Afghanistan, Castro was killed by a land mine in the village of Babur while running toward fellow soldiers who were trapped and being attacked by the
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Castro chose to reenlist to join his platoon in
Afghanistan, despite having the option to complete his service in the United States. Castro underwent training in
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Westlake High School football players drop flower petals in the water in honor of Lt. j.g. Francis L. Toner IV and Castro during a memorial held at the
39:(January 11, 1990 – August 28, 2010) was an American Army Intelligence Specialist who was killed in action in Babur, Afghanistan while serving during
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198:. He was buried on September 10, 2010, at Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks Memorial Park in Westlake Village. He was 20 years old when he died.
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issued a statement on Castro's death. Governor
Schwarzenegger ordered Capitol flags flown at half-staff.
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592:"Governor Schwarzenegger Issues Statement on Death of Westlake Village Soldier | The Fillmore Gazette"
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259:"Army Spc. Andrew Jordan Castro, 20, Westlake Village; killed in attack on his unit in Afghanistan"
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70:'s football team playing linebacker. In 2006, the team, including Castro, embraced the
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132:, Kentucky in February 2009. He specialized in human intelligence collection.
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Castro was born to Hector Castro and Carmen Roman in 1990. Castro grew up in
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The Acorn - Serving Agoura Hills, Calabasas, Oak Park & Westlake
Village
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American military personnel killed in the War in
Afghanistan (2001–2021)
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United States Army personnel of the War in
Afghanistan (2001–2021)
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His brother Ryan has served as a sergeant with the U.S. Army at
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invited World War II veteran Ed “Doc” Pepping, a member of the
474:"Westlake Village soldier killed in Afghanistan laid to rest"
286:"LA North: Westlake to memorialize A.J. Castro at halftime"
498:"Two 101st Soldiers killed by IED device while on patrol"
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to honor Castro. The event raised over $ 100,000 for the
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www.iraqwarheroes.org, citing The Fort
Campbell Courier
109:. Toner and Castro, graduates of Westlake, died during
541:"U.S. deaths in Afghanistan: Memorializing the fallen"
420:"Army specialist killed by Afghan land mine explosion"
617:"Fundraiser pays tribute to soldier killed in action"
565:"Oak Park High honors graduate killed in Afghanistan"
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While in high school, Castro was an active member of
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Castro was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star and
232:to support military personnel and their families.
184:Military Intelligence Corps (United States Army)
163:. Other awards and Army decorations include:
151:. He died alongside Sgt. Patrick K. Durham.
86:, to meet the players. He graduated in 2008.
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523:"MILITARY INTELLIGENCE CORPS MEMORIAL WALL"
16:American soldier and Purple Heart recipient
179:and Weapons Qualification: M249, expert.
671:People from Westlake Village, California
32:. (U.S. Navy photo by Christine Rosalin)
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666:People from Ventura County, California
43:. Castro was posthumously awarded the
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173:Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
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371:"Andrew J Castro- OurWarHeroes.org"
656:Military personnel from California
445:"I WAS HIGHLY MOTIVATED AND PROUD"
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343:"Screaming Eagles will fly again"
204:Oak Park High School (California)
74:theme from the HBO miniseries on
68:Westlake High School (California)
319:"WHS grad killed in Afghanistan"
317:Belmond, Sylvie (2010-09-02).
257:Steve, Chawkins (2010-10-24).
169:National Defense Service Medal
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418:Modesti, Kevin (2010-08-31).
194:Castro's casket returned to
61:Westlake Village, California
443:Branch, Cody (2018-04-15).
124:, 2nd Brigade Combat Team,
37:Andrew Jordan "A.J." Castro
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615:Brown, Cate (2011-11-03).
182:Castro is included in the
120:in June 2008, joining the
111:Operation Enduring Freedom
41:Operation Enduring Freedom
165:Meritorious Unit Citation
209:The California Governor
55:Early life and education
596:www.fillmoregazette.com
224:performed a concert in
126:101st Airborne Division
93:in San Antonio, Texas.
230:Gary Sinise Foundation
155:Awards and decorations
128:. He was stationed at
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621:Thousand Oaks Acorn -
323:Thousand Oaks Acorn -
211:Arnold Schwarzenegger
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196:Dover Air Force Base
107:USS Arizona Memorial
190:Burial and tributes
177:Army Service Ribbon
30:Waipahu High School
527:United States Army
502:Clarksville Online
395:"Andrew J. Castro"
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263:Los Angeles Times
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222:Lt. Dan Band
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161:Purple Heart
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45:Purple Heart
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676:2010 deaths
646:1990 births
399:latimes.com
218:Gary Sinise
80:Jim Benkert
640:Categories
626:2024-09-26
601:2024-09-26
574:2024-09-26
550:2024-09-26
508:2024-09-26
483:2024-09-26
454:2024-09-26
429:2024-09-26
424:Daily News
404:2024-09-26
380:2024-09-26
353:2024-09-26
328:2024-09-26
296:2024-09-26
268:2024-09-26
236:References
545:USA TODAY
216:In 2011,
290:ESPN.com
220:and his
78:. Coach
149:Taliban
449:Medium
137:Pashto
143:Death
47:and
28:and
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