Marine with Oklahoma ties killed in Iraq
By Kendal Kelly
Associated Press
OKLAHOMA CITY — A Marine reservist with Oklahoma ties was among six enlisted men killed Monday in a firefight with insurgents west of Baghdad, the Defense Department has confirmed.
Lance Cpl. Roger Dale Castleberry Jr., 26, of Cedar Park, Texas, was assigned to the Marine Corps Reserve’s 4th Reconnaissance Battalion, based in San Antonio. However, he was attached to a reserve unit from Ohio when he was killed.
Several of Castleberry’s relatives, including his mother and father, Deborah and Roger Dale Castleberry, Sr., live in Durant. Castleberry also left behind his wife, who lives in Cedar Park.
“The world has lost a really wonderful young man.” Deborah Castleberry said. “We want people to never forget his sacrifice.”
His family got two e-mails from him Monday, the first one requesting everyone to stop sending food because he would not be able to eat it all before he returned in October, she said.
“He only had a couple of months left. He was so excited about coming home, but he was very happy about doing his job there,” Deborah Castleberry said.
The second e-mail urged his family not to worry about him because none of the sniper units in his battalion had ever suffered a casualty.
Later that day, Castleberry’s unit was ambushed and overpowered by a large number of insurgents who killed all six members of his team, military officials told the family.
“If I know my son, his last minutes were spent trying to help and save his fellow Marines,” she said. “He would have wanted it that way.”
From the time Dale Castleberry was a little boy growing up in Austin, he dreamed of becoming a Marine, his mother said.
“He wore camouflage clothes to school when he was in kindergarten and my husband used to have to tell him, ‘Dale, you have other clothes,” she said.
Dale Castleberry joined the Marines one year after he graduated from Round Rock, Texas, High School, which he attended for its ROTC program.
“We said, ‘Do you want to do something else with your life?’ and he said, ‘No, this is all I ever want to do,”’ Deborah Castleberry said.
“The most important thing I’d want people to know about Dale was that he had a tremendous amount of integrity,” she said. “He never smoked, he never drank and he never cussed. He loved people and children. He was looking forward to being a father someday.”
Castleberry’s family planned to throw a welcome back party when he returned.
“We will never get to have that coming home party for him, but we are going to honor him in his death,” Deborah Castleberry said. “He put his life on the line for all of us and we need to honor our military everyday.”
Roger Dale Castleberry, Jr. On Monday August 1, 2005, a valiant young warrior was called home from service. Roger Dale Castleberry, Jr. (Dale Jr.) died in an ambush in northern Iraq. He is survived by his parents Roger Dale, Sr. and Deborah Castleberry; wife, Lauren M. Castleberry; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Michael and Aleta Goyne; two sisters, Cobi Croft and husband, Virgil of Mansfield, Tex. and Heather Kilpatrick and husband, Casey of Bertram, Tex.; brother, Don T. Castleberry and wife, Kelley of Mansfield; step-brother, Ryan Billington and wife, Roaxanne of Phoenix, Ariz.; step-sister, Mitzi Billington of Austin, Tex.; grandparents, Bill and Mary Atwood of Midland, Tex.; great- grandmother, (Nannie) Bertie Padddock of Durant, Okla.; sister-in- law, Amanda Goyne; second cousins, James and Glenda Rowland of Armstrong, Okla.; nieces, Victoria, Courtney, Taylor and Hannah; nephews, Dillon, Christopher and Caden; many family members, friends and fellow Marines throughout the world. Dale Jr. was preceded in death by his beloved mother, Gaye Atwood Castleberry. Dale was born and raised in Austin, attended Westwood High School for one year and transferred to Round Rock High School in order to participate in the Marines ROTC Program that is offered there. His lifelong desire was to be a marine. From an early age he prepared for the day he could become part of the Corps. In grade school, his Dad had to let his teachers know that he owned more than one set of camouflage outfits and that they were clean.....he wore them everyday! Dale loved life, his pet Siberian Huskies, camping, hiking, snowmobiling in the mountains, and most of all being a Marine! He passionately loved his country and his family and believed that his service in Iraq would help prevent the war and terrorism from returning to our shores. His gentle touch, soft heart and mischievous smile will be forever missed and a deep void is left in our hearts and lives. We thank God for the privilege of having known such a wonderful young man. We are especially thankful for all of the help and assistance from his fellow Marines in the 4th Recon, 4th Marine Division, based in San Antonio, Tex., (Wpns. Co. 25th Mar, RCT-2, 2nd MarDiv) for bringing our loving son home to us. Visitation will be held from 2:00 until 6:00 p.m., on Sunday, August 7, 2005, at Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Funeral Home in Pflugerville. Funeral Services will be held at 3:30 p.m., on Monday, August 8, 2005, in the Memorial Chapel of Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Funeral Home. Interment with Military Honors will be held at Cook-Walden/Memorial Hill Cemetery in Pflugerville. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Dale Castleberry, Jr. Memorial Marine ROTC scholarship Fund at any Wells Fargo Bank.
Published in the Austin American-Statesman on 8/6/2005.
By Kendal Kelly
Associated Press
OKLAHOMA CITY — A Marine reservist with Oklahoma ties was among six enlisted men killed Monday in a firefight with insurgents west of Baghdad, the Defense Department has confirmed.
Lance Cpl. Roger Dale Castleberry Jr., 26, of Cedar Park, Texas, was assigned to the Marine Corps Reserve’s 4th Reconnaissance Battalion, based in San Antonio. However, he was attached to a reserve unit from Ohio when he was killed.
Several of Castleberry’s relatives, including his mother and father, Deborah and Roger Dale Castleberry, Sr., live in Durant. Castleberry also left behind his wife, who lives in Cedar Park.
“The world has lost a really wonderful young man.” Deborah Castleberry said. “We want people to never forget his sacrifice.”
His family got two e-mails from him Monday, the first one requesting everyone to stop sending food because he would not be able to eat it all before he returned in October, she said.
“He only had a couple of months left. He was so excited about coming home, but he was very happy about doing his job there,” Deborah Castleberry said.
The second e-mail urged his family not to worry about him because none of the sniper units in his battalion had ever suffered a casualty.
Later that day, Castleberry’s unit was ambushed and overpowered by a large number of insurgents who killed all six members of his team, military officials told the family.
“If I know my son, his last minutes were spent trying to help and save his fellow Marines,” she said. “He would have wanted it that way.”
From the time Dale Castleberry was a little boy growing up in Austin, he dreamed of becoming a Marine, his mother said.
“He wore camouflage clothes to school when he was in kindergarten and my husband used to have to tell him, ‘Dale, you have other clothes,” she said.
Dale Castleberry joined the Marines one year after he graduated from Round Rock, Texas, High School, which he attended for its ROTC program.
“We said, ‘Do you want to do something else with your life?’ and he said, ‘No, this is all I ever want to do,”’ Deborah Castleberry said.
“The most important thing I’d want people to know about Dale was that he had a tremendous amount of integrity,” she said. “He never smoked, he never drank and he never cussed. He loved people and children. He was looking forward to being a father someday.”
Castleberry’s family planned to throw a welcome back party when he returned.
“We will never get to have that coming home party for him, but we are going to honor him in his death,” Deborah Castleberry said. “He put his life on the line for all of us and we need to honor our military everyday.”
Roger Dale Castleberry, Jr. On Monday August 1, 2005, a valiant young warrior was called home from service. Roger Dale Castleberry, Jr. (Dale Jr.) died in an ambush in northern Iraq. He is survived by his parents Roger Dale, Sr. and Deborah Castleberry; wife, Lauren M. Castleberry; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Michael and Aleta Goyne; two sisters, Cobi Croft and husband, Virgil of Mansfield, Tex. and Heather Kilpatrick and husband, Casey of Bertram, Tex.; brother, Don T. Castleberry and wife, Kelley of Mansfield; step-brother, Ryan Billington and wife, Roaxanne of Phoenix, Ariz.; step-sister, Mitzi Billington of Austin, Tex.; grandparents, Bill and Mary Atwood of Midland, Tex.; great- grandmother, (Nannie) Bertie Padddock of Durant, Okla.; sister-in- law, Amanda Goyne; second cousins, James and Glenda Rowland of Armstrong, Okla.; nieces, Victoria, Courtney, Taylor and Hannah; nephews, Dillon, Christopher and Caden; many family members, friends and fellow Marines throughout the world. Dale Jr. was preceded in death by his beloved mother, Gaye Atwood Castleberry. Dale was born and raised in Austin, attended Westwood High School for one year and transferred to Round Rock High School in order to participate in the Marines ROTC Program that is offered there. His lifelong desire was to be a marine. From an early age he prepared for the day he could become part of the Corps. In grade school, his Dad had to let his teachers know that he owned more than one set of camouflage outfits and that they were clean.....he wore them everyday! Dale loved life, his pet Siberian Huskies, camping, hiking, snowmobiling in the mountains, and most of all being a Marine! He passionately loved his country and his family and believed that his service in Iraq would help prevent the war and terrorism from returning to our shores. His gentle touch, soft heart and mischievous smile will be forever missed and a deep void is left in our hearts and lives. We thank God for the privilege of having known such a wonderful young man. We are especially thankful for all of the help and assistance from his fellow Marines in the 4th Recon, 4th Marine Division, based in San Antonio, Tex., (Wpns. Co. 25th Mar, RCT-2, 2nd MarDiv) for bringing our loving son home to us. Visitation will be held from 2:00 until 6:00 p.m., on Sunday, August 7, 2005, at Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Funeral Home in Pflugerville. Funeral Services will be held at 3:30 p.m., on Monday, August 8, 2005, in the Memorial Chapel of Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Funeral Home. Interment with Military Honors will be held at Cook-Walden/Memorial Hill Cemetery in Pflugerville. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Dale Castleberry, Jr. Memorial Marine ROTC scholarship Fund at any Wells Fargo Bank.
Published in the Austin American-Statesman on 8/6/2005.
Marine with Oklahoma ties killed in Iraq
By Kendal Kelly
Associated Press
OKLAHOMA CITY — A Marine reservist with Oklahoma ties was among six enlisted men killed Monday in a firefight with insurgents west of Baghdad, the Defense Department has confirmed.
Lance Cpl. Roger Dale Castleberry Jr., 26, of Cedar Park, Texas, was assigned to the Marine Corps Reserve’s 4th Reconnaissance Battalion, based in San Antonio. However, he was attached to a reserve unit from Ohio when he was killed.
Several of Castleberry’s relatives, including his mother and father, Deborah and Roger Dale Castleberry, Sr., live in Durant. Castleberry also left behind his wife, who lives in Cedar Park.
“The world has lost a really wonderful young man.” Deborah Castleberry said. “We want people to never forget his sacrifice.”
His family got two e-mails from him Monday, the first one requesting everyone to stop sending food because he would not be able to eat it all before he returned in October, she said.
“He only had a couple of months left. He was so excited about coming home, but he was very happy about doing his job there,” Deborah Castleberry said.
The second e-mail urged his family not to worry about him because none of the sniper units in his battalion had ever suffered a casualty.
Later that day, Castleberry’s unit was ambushed and overpowered by a large number of insurgents who killed all six members of his team, military officials told the family.
“If I know my son, his last minutes were spent trying to help and save his fellow Marines,” she said. “He would have wanted it that way.”
From the time Dale Castleberry was a little boy growing up in Austin, he dreamed of becoming a Marine, his mother said.
“He wore camouflage clothes to school when he was in kindergarten and my husband used to have to tell him, ‘Dale, you have other clothes,” she said.
Dale Castleberry joined the Marines one year after he graduated from Round Rock, Texas, High School, which he attended for its ROTC program.
“We said, ‘Do you want to do something else with your life?’ and he said, ‘No, this is all I ever want to do,”’ Deborah Castleberry said.
“The most important thing I’d want people to know about Dale was that he had a tremendous amount of integrity,” she said. “He never smoked, he never drank and he never cussed. He loved people and children. He was looking forward to being a father someday.”
Castleberry’s family planned to throw a welcome back party when he returned.
“We will never get to have that coming home party for him, but we are going to honor him in his death,” Deborah Castleberry said. “He put his life on the line for all of us and we need to honor our military everyday.”
Roger Dale Castleberry, Jr. On Monday August 1, 2005, a valiant young warrior was called home from service. Roger Dale Castleberry, Jr. (Dale Jr.) died in an ambush in northern Iraq. He is survived by his parents Roger Dale, Sr. and Deborah Castleberry; wife, Lauren M. Castleberry; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Michael and Aleta Goyne; two sisters, Cobi Croft and husband, Virgil of Mansfield, Tex. and Heather Kilpatrick and husband, Casey of Bertram, Tex.; brother, Don T. Castleberry and wife, Kelley of Mansfield; step-brother, Ryan Billington and wife, Roaxanne of Phoenix, Ariz.; step-sister, Mitzi Billington of Austin, Tex.; grandparents, Bill and Mary Atwood of Midland, Tex.; great- grandmother, (Nannie) Bertie Padddock of Durant, Okla.; sister-in- law, Amanda Goyne; second cousins, James and Glenda Rowland of Armstrong, Okla.; nieces, Victoria, Courtney, Taylor and Hannah; nephews, Dillon, Christopher and Caden; many family members, friends and fellow Marines throughout the world. Dale Jr. was preceded in death by his beloved mother, Gaye Atwood Castleberry. Dale was born and raised in Austin, attended Westwood High School for one year and transferred to Round Rock High School in order to participate in the Marines ROTC Program that is offered there. His lifelong desire was to be a marine. From an early age he prepared for the day he could become part of the Corps. In grade school, his Dad had to let his teachers know that he owned more than one set of camouflage outfits and that they were clean.....he wore them everyday! Dale loved life, his pet Siberian Huskies, camping, hiking, snowmobiling in the mountains, and most of all being a Marine! He passionately loved his country and his family and believed that his service in Iraq would help prevent the war and terrorism from returning to our shores. His gentle touch, soft heart and mischievous smile will be forever missed and a deep void is left in our hearts and lives. We thank God for the privilege of having known such a wonderful young man. We are especially thankful for all of the help and assistance from his fellow Marines in the 4th Recon, 4th Marine Division, based in San Antonio, Tex., (Wpns. Co. 25th Mar, RCT-2, 2nd MarDiv) for bringing our loving son home to us. Visitation will be held from 2:00 until 6:00 p.m., on Sunday, August 7, 2005, at Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Funeral Home in Pflugerville. Funeral Services will be held at 3:30 p.m., on Monday, August 8, 2005, in the Memorial Chapel of Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Funeral Home. Interment with Military Honors will be held at Cook-Walden/Memorial Hill Cemetery in Pflugerville. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Dale Castleberry, Jr. Memorial Marine ROTC scholarship Fund at any Wells Fargo Bank.
Published in the Austin American-Statesman on 8/6/2005.
By Kendal Kelly
Associated Press
OKLAHOMA CITY — A Marine reservist with Oklahoma ties was among six enlisted men killed Monday in a firefight with insurgents west of Baghdad, the Defense Department has confirmed.
Lance Cpl. Roger Dale Castleberry Jr., 26, of Cedar Park, Texas, was assigned to the Marine Corps Reserve’s 4th Reconnaissance Battalion, based in San Antonio. However, he was attached to a reserve unit from Ohio when he was killed.
Several of Castleberry’s relatives, including his mother and father, Deborah and Roger Dale Castleberry, Sr., live in Durant. Castleberry also left behind his wife, who lives in Cedar Park.
“The world has lost a really wonderful young man.” Deborah Castleberry said. “We want people to never forget his sacrifice.”
His family got two e-mails from him Monday, the first one requesting everyone to stop sending food because he would not be able to eat it all before he returned in October, she said.
“He only had a couple of months left. He was so excited about coming home, but he was very happy about doing his job there,” Deborah Castleberry said.
The second e-mail urged his family not to worry about him because none of the sniper units in his battalion had ever suffered a casualty.
Later that day, Castleberry’s unit was ambushed and overpowered by a large number of insurgents who killed all six members of his team, military officials told the family.
“If I know my son, his last minutes were spent trying to help and save his fellow Marines,” she said. “He would have wanted it that way.”
From the time Dale Castleberry was a little boy growing up in Austin, he dreamed of becoming a Marine, his mother said.
“He wore camouflage clothes to school when he was in kindergarten and my husband used to have to tell him, ‘Dale, you have other clothes,” she said.
Dale Castleberry joined the Marines one year after he graduated from Round Rock, Texas, High School, which he attended for its ROTC program.
“We said, ‘Do you want to do something else with your life?’ and he said, ‘No, this is all I ever want to do,”’ Deborah Castleberry said.
“The most important thing I’d want people to know about Dale was that he had a tremendous amount of integrity,” she said. “He never smoked, he never drank and he never cussed. He loved people and children. He was looking forward to being a father someday.”
Castleberry’s family planned to throw a welcome back party when he returned.
“We will never get to have that coming home party for him, but we are going to honor him in his death,” Deborah Castleberry said. “He put his life on the line for all of us and we need to honor our military everyday.”
Roger Dale Castleberry, Jr. On Monday August 1, 2005, a valiant young warrior was called home from service. Roger Dale Castleberry, Jr. (Dale Jr.) died in an ambush in northern Iraq. He is survived by his parents Roger Dale, Sr. and Deborah Castleberry; wife, Lauren M. Castleberry; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Michael and Aleta Goyne; two sisters, Cobi Croft and husband, Virgil of Mansfield, Tex. and Heather Kilpatrick and husband, Casey of Bertram, Tex.; brother, Don T. Castleberry and wife, Kelley of Mansfield; step-brother, Ryan Billington and wife, Roaxanne of Phoenix, Ariz.; step-sister, Mitzi Billington of Austin, Tex.; grandparents, Bill and Mary Atwood of Midland, Tex.; great- grandmother, (Nannie) Bertie Padddock of Durant, Okla.; sister-in- law, Amanda Goyne; second cousins, James and Glenda Rowland of Armstrong, Okla.; nieces, Victoria, Courtney, Taylor and Hannah; nephews, Dillon, Christopher and Caden; many family members, friends and fellow Marines throughout the world. Dale Jr. was preceded in death by his beloved mother, Gaye Atwood Castleberry. Dale was born and raised in Austin, attended Westwood High School for one year and transferred to Round Rock High School in order to participate in the Marines ROTC Program that is offered there. His lifelong desire was to be a marine. From an early age he prepared for the day he could become part of the Corps. In grade school, his Dad had to let his teachers know that he owned more than one set of camouflage outfits and that they were clean.....he wore them everyday! Dale loved life, his pet Siberian Huskies, camping, hiking, snowmobiling in the mountains, and most of all being a Marine! He passionately loved his country and his family and believed that his service in Iraq would help prevent the war and terrorism from returning to our shores. His gentle touch, soft heart and mischievous smile will be forever missed and a deep void is left in our hearts and lives. We thank God for the privilege of having known such a wonderful young man. We are especially thankful for all of the help and assistance from his fellow Marines in the 4th Recon, 4th Marine Division, based in San Antonio, Tex., (Wpns. Co. 25th Mar, RCT-2, 2nd MarDiv) for bringing our loving son home to us. Visitation will be held from 2:00 until 6:00 p.m., on Sunday, August 7, 2005, at Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Funeral Home in Pflugerville. Funeral Services will be held at 3:30 p.m., on Monday, August 8, 2005, in the Memorial Chapel of Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Funeral Home. Interment with Military Honors will be held at Cook-Walden/Memorial Hill Cemetery in Pflugerville. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Dale Castleberry, Jr. Memorial Marine ROTC scholarship Fund at any Wells Fargo Bank.
Published in the Austin American-Statesman on 8/6/2005.
Inscription
ROGER DALE
CASTLEBERRY JR
LCPL US MARINE CORPS
OCT 8 1978 - AUG 1 2005
PURPLE HEART
KILLED IN ACTION
OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM
Gravesite Details
United States Marine Corps emblem
