PRIORITY
SECRET
0705 16 JANUARY 1991
FROM COMMANDING OFFICER 403RD AVIATION BATTALION
TO COMMANDER IN CHIEF US CENTRAL COMMAND
ATTN: J-l
INFO: PUBLIC AFFAIRS
1. THE UNDERSIGNED STRONGLY RECOMMENDS THE IMPACT AWARD OF THE
DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS AND THE PURPLE HEART MEDAL TO SECOND
LIEUTENANT C. G. CASTILLO, SSN 245220136, AVIATION, 155TH ATTACK
HELICOPTER COMPANY, WITH CITATION AS FOLLOWS:
SECOND LIEUTENANT CASTILLO WAS FLYING AS COPILOT OF AN AH-64B
ATTACK HELICOPTER IN THE OPENING HOURS OF OPERATION DESERT STORM.
AFTER SUCCESSFULLY DESTROYING SEVERAL IRAQI RADAR INSTALLATIONS AND
OTHER TARGETS, THE AIRCRAFT WAS STRUCK AND SEVERELY DAMAGED BY IRAQI
ANTI-AIRCRAFT FIRE. THE PILOT WAS BLINDED, LIEUTENANT CASTILLO WAS
WOUNDED, AND HIS WINDSCREEN WAS DESTROYED. LIEUTENANT CASTILLO TOOK
THE CONTROLS OF THE AIRCRAFT AND DESPITE HIS PAINFUL WOUNDS AND THE
LOSS OF ESSENTIALLY ALL COMMUNICATIONS AND NAVIGATION EQUIPMENT FLEW