Criteria The Presidential Unit Citation may be awarded to units of the Armed Forces of the United States and cobelligerent nations for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy occurring on or aft... The Presidential Unit Citation may be awarded to units of the Armed Forces of the United States and cobelligerent nations for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy occurring on or after December 7, 1941. MoreHide
Criteria The American Defense Service Medal was awarded for service in the Armed Forces between September 8, 1939, and December 7, 1941. Army members had to serve 12 months to be eligible, but Navy and Marine ... The American Defense Service Medal was awarded for service in the Armed Forces between September 8, 1939, and December 7, 1941. Army members had to serve 12 months to be eligible, but Navy and Marine Corps members were eligible based on any length of service. MoreHide
Criteria The Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal was awarded for for qualifying service within the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations between December 7, 1941, and March 2, 1946, under any of the following condi... The Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal was awarded for for qualifying service within the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations between December 7, 1941, and March 2, 1946, under any of the following conditions: On permanent assignment within the Asiatic-Pacific Theater; or, For service in a passenger status or on temporary duty for 30 consecutive days or 60 non-consecutive days; or, For service in active combat in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations against the enemy and awarded a combat decoration or furnished a certificate by the commanding general of a corps, higher unit, or independent force that the individual actually participated in combat. MoreHide
Criteria The Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal was awarded for for qualifying service within the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations between December 7, 1941, and March 2, 1946, under any of the following condi... The Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal was awarded for for qualifying service within the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations between December 7, 1941, and March 2, 1946, under any of the following conditions: On permanent assignment within the Asiatic-Pacific Theater; or, For service in a passenger status or on temporary duty for 30 consecutive days or 60 non-consecutive days; or, For service in active combat in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations against the enemy and awarded a combat decoration or furnished a certificate by the commanding general of a corps, higher unit, or independent force that the individual actually participated in combat. MoreHide
Criteria The Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal was awarded for for qualifying service within the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations between December 7, 1941, and March 2, 1946, under any of the following condi... The Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal was awarded for for qualifying service within the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations between December 7, 1941, and March 2, 1946, under any of the following conditions: On permanent assignment within the Asiatic-Pacific Theater; or, For service in a passenger status or on temporary duty for 30 consecutive days or 60 non-consecutive days; or, For service in active combat in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations against the enemy and awarded a combat decoration or furnished a certificate by the commanding general of a corps, higher unit, or independent force that the individual actually participated in combat. MoreHide
Criteria The Presidential Unit Citation may be awarded to units of the Armed Forces of the United States and cobelligerent nations for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy occurring on or aft... The Presidential Unit Citation may be awarded to units of the Armed Forces of the United States and cobelligerent nations for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy occurring on or after December 7, 1941. MoreHide
Description General Orders #73&78 by DAGO...for action in the South Pacific August 7 - December 9, 1942. Maj. Edmundson wrote,"To my knowledge this is the only B-17 unit to be so honored by a sister service."... General Orders #73&78 by DAGO...for action in the South Pacific August 7 - December 9, 1942. Maj. Edmundson wrote,"To my knowledge this is the only B-17 unit to be so honored by a sister service." MoreHide
Criteria The Purple Heart may be awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States who, while serving under competent authority in any capacity with one of the Armed Forces, has been wounded, kill... The Purple Heart may be awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States who, while serving under competent authority in any capacity with one of the Armed Forces, has been wounded, killed, or who has died or may die of wounds received in armed combat or as a result of an act of international terrorism. MoreHide
Comments
Officially listed as dead on Jan. 16, 1946 after being listed as MIA since Feb. 1, 1943
Criteria The Silver Star may be awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the Armed Forces of the United States, is cited for gallantry in action, against an enemy of the United States whil... The Silver Star may be awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the Armed Forces of the United States, is cited for gallantry in action, against an enemy of the United States while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force or, while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.The required gallantry, while of a lesser degree than that required for the award of a Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross, or Air Force Cross, must nevertheless have been performed with marked distinction. MoreHide
Comments
General Orders #53...details not found due to 1973 fire at the Military Personel Office in St. Louis.
Criteria The Distinguished Flying Cross may be awarded to military members who, while serving in any capacity with the Armed Forces, distinguish themselves by heroism or outstanding achievement while participa... The Distinguished Flying Cross may be awarded to military members who, while serving in any capacity with the Armed Forces, distinguish themselves by heroism or outstanding achievement while participating in aerial flight. MoreHide
Comments General Orders #97...For extraordinary achievement in the Solomon Islands while participating, in the period from Dec.7, 1941, to Jan. 10, 1943, in 63 operational air flights totalling over 633 hours,... General Orders #97...For extraordinary achievement in the Solomon Islands while participating, in the period from Dec.7, 1941, to Jan. 10, 1943, in 63 operational air flights totalling over 633 hours, during which exposure to enemy fire was probable and expected. MoreHide
Criteria The Air Medal may be awarded to individuals who, while serving in any capacity with the Armed Forces, distinguish themselves by heroism, outstanding achievement, or by meritorious service while partic... The Air Medal may be awarded to individuals who, while serving in any capacity with the Armed Forces, distinguish themselves by heroism, outstanding achievement, or by meritorious service while participating in aerial flight, but not of a degree that would justify an award of the Distinguished Flying Cross. MoreHide
Comments General Orders #8...for mertorious achievement in air operatons against the enemy on August 16,1942, in the Solomon Island area. Lt. Castro participated in an attack upon a Japanese four-engine flyin... General Orders #8...for mertorious achievement in air operatons against the enemy on August 16,1942, in the Solomon Island area. Lt. Castro participated in an attack upon a Japanese four-engine flying boat which was sighted and engaged at a point about 50 miles NW of Gizo Island. The enemy craft turned away but was overtaken and again engaged for approximately 45 minutes, finally being shot down by Lt. Castro and other members of the crew. Immediately following this action, their airplane was attacked by an enemy fighter which made one pass, secured two hits on the left wing and then pursued, out of gun range, for approximate 50 miles before turning away. MoreHide
Criteria The Air Medal may be awarded to individuals who, while serving in any capacity with the Armed Forces, distinguish themselves by heroism, outstanding achievement, or by meritorious service while partic... The Air Medal may be awarded to individuals who, while serving in any capacity with the Armed Forces, distinguish themselves by heroism, outstanding achievement, or by meritorious service while participating in aerial flight, but not of a degree that would justify an award of the Distinguished Flying Cross. MoreHide
Comments General Orders #55...for meritorious achievement while participating in an air flight on Dec.16,1942, over the Solomon Islands. Lt. Castro was co-pilot for the flight leader on a successful bombing mi... General Orders #55...for meritorious achievement while participating in an air flight on Dec.16,1942, over the Solomon Islands. Lt. Castro was co-pilot for the flight leader on a successful bombing mission with six B-17 airplanes. Sixteen enemy fighters attacted the formation. Wingman #3 was diabled early in the encounter and the bomber in which Lt. Castro was a crew member, with the remainder of the formation, stayed over and to the rear of the diabled bomber, thereby preventing the complete destruction and loss of number 3 wingman which finally crash landed with little injury to the members of its crew. These crew members were later rescued. At least four enemy fighters were destroyed. MoreHide
Description (Central Pacific Campaign 7 December 1941 to 6 December 1943) The war in the Central Pacific began with the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941. Six months later an AAF task force took (Central Pacific Campaign 7 December 1941 to 6 December 1943) The war in the Central Pacific began with the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941. Six months later an AAF task force took part in the Battle of Midway, in which a great Japanese fleet was defeated. But another year and a half elapsed before American forces began an offensive against Japanese positions in the Central Pacific. It was then, on 20 November 1943, that landings were made in the Gilberts, on Makin and Tarawa, with the Marines at the latter place becoming engaged in one of the bloodiest battles of the war.... More
Description The plan of the Pacific subseries was determined by the geography, strategy, and the military organization of a theater largely oceanic. Two independent, coordinate commands, one in the Southwest PaciThe plan of the Pacific subseries was determined by the geography, strategy, and the military organization of a theater largely oceanic. Two independent, coordinate commands, one in the Southwest Pacific under General of the Army Douglas MacArthur and the other in the Central, South, and North Pacific (Pacific Ocean Areas) under Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, were created early in the war. Except in the South and Southwest Pacific, each conducted its own operations with its own ground, air, and naval forces in widely separated areas. These operations required at first only a relatively small number of troops whose efforts often yielded strategic gains which cannot be measured by the size of the forces involved. Indeed, the nature of the objectivesùsmall islands, coral atolls, and jungle-bound harbors and airstrips, made the employment of large ground forces impossible and highlighted the importance of air and naval operations. Thus, until 1945, the war in the Pacific progressed by a double series of amphibious operations each of which fitted into a strategic pattern developed in Washington.
21 Named Campaigns were recognized in the Asiatic Pacific Theater with Battle Streamers and Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medals. ... More
Description
Dec 7, 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor
Memories Commissioned Oct. 31, 1941 at Luke Field Arizona. Ordered to Bellow AFB Nov. 1, 1941 to the 86th ObCommissioned Oct. 31, 1941 at Luke Field Arizona. Ordered to Bellow AFB Nov. 1, 1941 to the 86th Observation unit 11th BG. Transferred to Hickam AFB 11th BG 42nd Squadron Nov. 15, 1941. Survived the bombing of Peral Harbor Dec. 7, 1941. Was MIA Dec. 27, 1941 to Jan. 1, 1942 when he and crew belly landed 90 miles SE of Kauai due to instrument malfuction. Execept for suffering from exposure all crew members were in excellent spirit! His unit continued schooling, training and engaged in search of the enemy for probable landing. His unit participated at Midway. In July of 41 his unit transfered over seas to Fiji, New Caledonia, Efate, Espirtu Santo, and Guadalcanal until his last mission over the Shortland Islands on Feb. 1, 1943. Presumed Dead on Jan. 16, 1946.... More