LAWTON, MI, USA
U.S. Marines
LCPL, C CO, 1ST BN, 24TH MAR, (RCT-5, I MEF FWD), 4TH MAR DIV, LANSING, MI
BALAD, IRAQ 01/20/2007
Senator George asked and was granted unanimous consent to make a statement and moved that the statement be printed in the Journal. The motion prevailed.
Senator George’s statement is as follows:
I’m joined by Representative Schuitmaker and in the east Gallery we have the family of Lance Corporal Luis J. Castillo and I would ask that they rise.
“LET IT BE KNOWN, That it is with deepest gratitude for the life and dedicated service of Lance Corporal Luis J. Castillo of Lawton, Michigan, that we join with his family, friends, fellow Marines and citizens across the country in honoring this fallen American hero.
Lance Corporal Luis Castillo gave his life for his country on Saturday, January 20, 2007, when his unit came under small arms fire while on patrol in al-Anbar province, Iraq. Castillo belonged to a Lansing-based unit of the Marine Forces Reserve’s 1st Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division.
Luis enlisted as a Marine reservist soon after his graduation from Mattawan High School in Mattawan, Michigan, and served two years before being deployed to Iraq on September 26, 2006. He will be remembered as a hardworking, daring, fun-loving person who followed through on his promises. He was passionate about his faith and his love for his family, and always took time to be with those who meant the most to him.
We extend our deepest sympathy to Lance Corporal Castillo’s family, especially his mother, Raquel Garcia, his brother Juan and sister-in-law Rosemary, his sisters Pilar and Jazmin, and his many nieces and nephews. Luis was preceded in death by his father, Uvaldo Castillo. Everyone who knew Luis feels his loss intensely and cherishes his memory with extraordinary pride and love.