Award-winning columnist Tom Archdeacon — an old-school storyteller in a brand-new venue — writes about sports, the city, southwest Ohio and anything else that catches his fancy… or yours.Home > Blogs > Through the Arch > Archives > 2008 > September > 28 > Entry
blog: A Proper Dayton Send-off for a “Real American Hero”
Thanks to an e-mail from reader Ellen Vogel, I found out that U.S. Army Capt. Ivan Castro — blinded by a mortar blast while fighting in Iraq — left Dayton last Sunday morning with more than just the medal that had been hung around his neck the day before after he’d finished running the U.S. Air Force Marathon in 4 hours 16 seconds.
Here’s what Ellen wrote:
“I happened to be at the Dayton airport early Sunday morning for a flight. Capt. Castro was on our plane. He boarded before I arrived. While I was waiting to board, a group of maybe 10 to 12 motorcycle riders came to the gate with flags and wearing their motorcycle gear.
“Capt. Castro was asked to come back off the plane. … He walked off not really understanding why, but then he was greeted by the Harley motorcycle group.
“The president of the group said they didn’t want him to leave Dayton without a proper send-off. ….They thanked him for his service and presented him with a shirt and pin. When he reboarded, he was greeted with applause.”
After hearing Ellen’s account, I got in touch with Capt. Castro, who was at his desk back a Fort Bragg. N.C., and I asked him to fill in the details.
He was surprised the story had gotten out and said for me to fully appreciate it, he wanted to give some of the back story.
“I love Harley Davidson motorcycles, — I just love ‘em ” he said.” I always wanted one and my wife finally said I should go get one, but that she wouildn’t ride with me. She said it was too dangerous. That’s when I decided to get a boat instead, but then, soon after that, I got hurt.”
That was two years ago and these days, instead of riding a Harley, Capt. Castro collects Harley Davidson shirts and Hard Rock Cafe caps everywhere he goes.
When he got to Dayton two days before the marathon — his wife Evelyn wouldn’t arrive until a day later — he asked the TSA represntative who helped him deplane at the airport if there were any Hard Rock hotels or Harley shops around.
She told him there was a Harley place, but while he was here he ended up with too many commitments and wasn’t able to slip off in search of a shirt.
“But Sunday when my wife and I go through security at the Dayton airport, there is that same TSA agent,” Castro said. “She handed me a bag and inside was a Harley Davidson shirt. I couldn’t believe she’d done that for me. That was pretty special.”
And it was about to get even more special than that.
He and Evelyn boarded the plane and, no sooner were they in there seats, when a flight attendant got on the PA system and asked for the Castro family to come to the front of the plane,
“Evelyn went to find out what was going on and she came back bawling her eyes out;” Ivan said. “Right then I was ready to kick some butt and find out who made my wife cry.
“She finally goes, ‘No, there’s a brigade outside that wants to see you.’
“When I got out there, my wife described the scene to me. It was the Patriot Guard Riders, the motorcycle crew. They’re all veterans. They were wearing their leather and most of them had their flags open . My wife said the head guy looked like Kenny Rogers.
“He told me they just wanted to thank me for serving my country and for not quitting. And then they gave me a shirt. Well, I stripped off the jacket and shirt I was wearing and donned their shirt. Then I took pictures with them.
“It was awesome, just very moving. I didn’t have any idea how many people were out there, but then they started clapping and I realized there was a good crowd. And when I got back on the plane, everybody in there gave me an ovation, too.”
And the night before — some six hours after he’d finished running the marathon with the help of guide Lt. Col. Fred Dummar — Ivan, his wife and the Lt. Colonel had all gone to El Meson, the popular Spanish cuisine restaurant in West Carrollton run by the Castro family. The Castros here are no relation to Ivan, but they have a Columbian roots, as does Evelyn.
“Not that was a real American hero,” said El Meson’s Bill Castro. “I think he had a good time here.”
“We had a great time there and I ate and ate and ate,” Ivan laughed. .
“I’ll tell you something, I’ll never forget Dayton. Everybody treated me great. There are some real good people up there.”
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Comments
By noolositel
December 2, 2008 9:42 AM | Link to this
monbocaczBy Susan Appleman
October 6, 2008 8:54 AM | Link to this
Just want to say ThankYou so much for everything. . Our son SSG.John Doles was in the Army. We lost him Sep. 30,2005.By Susan Appleman
October 6, 2008 8:53 AM | Link to this
Just want to say ThankYou so much for everything. . Our son SSG.John Doles was in the Army. We lost him Sep. 30,2005.By Susan Appleman
October 6, 2008 8:53 AM | Link to this
Just want to say ThankYou so much for everything. . Our son SSG.John Doles was in the Army. We lost him Sep. 30,2005.By karen
September 29, 2008 6:31 PM | Link to this
thank you so much for serving our country. my son was a marine. i thank god every day that he is still alive. i am a harley lover also and want to thank the vets also. god bless all of youBy karen
September 29, 2008 6:31 PM | Link to this
thank you so much for serving our country. my son was a marine. i thank god every day that he is still alive. i am a harley lover also and want to thank the vets also. god bless all of youBy karen
September 29, 2008 6:31 PM | Link to this
thank you so much for serving our country. my son was a marine. i thank god every day that he is still alive. i am a harley lover also and want to thank the vets also. god bless all of youBy Jeff
September 29, 2008 2:04 PM | Link to this
Thank you so much for publishing this follow-up to what was already an extraordinary story. It’s so good to hear about one man’s service and perseverance meeting up with the genuine appreciation and good will of those whose country he served. This is a welcome ray of light in the midst of such dark and shadowed times.By Jeff
September 29, 2008 2:03 PM | Link to this
Thank you so much for publishing this follow-up to what was already an extraordinary story. It’s so good to hear about one man’s service and perseverance meeting up with the genuine appreciation and good will of those whose country he served. This is a welcome ray of light in the midst of such dark and shadowed times.