lest we forget

CASTILLO, GREGORIO PEDRO

Rank / Branch:

  • PRIVATE FIRST CLASS, U.S. ARMY

Date Of Birth:

  • 1943-05-09

Country Of Loss:

  • SOUTH VIETNAM

Status:

  • HOSTILE-EXPLOSIVE WOUNDS

Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground:​

  • GROUND

Other:

  • NOT MARRIED

Unit:

  • AMERICAL DIVISION

Date Of Loss:

  • 1969-09-21

Loss Coordinates:

  • QUANG NGAI

Catagory:

  • BODY RETURNED

Awards & Decorations:

  • SEE BIO

VETERAN HAGI0GRAPHY

  • CASTILLO, GREGORIO PEDRO, PRIVATE FIRST CLASS, U.S. ARMY, MONAHANS, WARD COUNTY, TEXAS

AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

  • COMBAT INFANTRYMANSTIONALD DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL. VIETNAM SERVICE MEDAL, VIETNAM MILITARY MERIT MEDAL, VIETNAM CROSS OF GALANTRY WITH PALM, VIETNAM CAMPAIGN MEDAL

BIOGRAPHY

  • Gregorio Pedro Castillo was born in Potois, Mexico, a small village near Mexico City. He and his sister came to the U.S. as children. His mother later joined the family. He was a Ward County resident, having attended Monahans schools and they lived with the Martinez family in Monahans. He was drafted at age 22 when he was living and working in Glendale, California doing migrate farm work. He completed basic training and infantry AIT at Fort Ord, California. While in basic training, his mother died in Monahans.
  • PFC Castillo began his tour in Vietnam on January 12, 1969. He was assigned as an infantryman with Company A, 4th Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment, 11th Infantry Brigade under the operational control of the Americal (23rd) Division. He was killed on September 21, 1969. His unit was operating 14 miles west of Duc Pho (92 miles SSE of Da Nang). The unit was in a night defense mode and at a place they had previously used. The unit became engaged with an unknown size enemy force. They received small arms and about 45 rounds of mortar fire. His unit fired back with unit weapons and were supported by helicopter gunships and a USAF AC-119 gunship. Enemy losses were unknown, but Gregorio was one of 11 troopers killed and 10 wounded. From the after-action report, those who were killed and those who were wounded came as a result of three (3) direct hits by mortars into fox holes occupied by the personnel. PFC Castillo died from multiple fragments wounds to his chest and arms.
  • PFC Castillo was buried with full military honors in Monahans City Cemetery, Monahans, Texas next to his mother. He was survived by his sister, Andrea Escamilla of Monahans.
  • IN VIETNAM MAY 1969
  • MONAHANS CITY CEMETERY