AIKEN JOURNAL (Dick Smith)

February 19, 2008

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED- Ivan Castro is an Army 1st LT, (soon to be a Captain) assigned to the 82d ABN Division who was blinded during combat ops in Iraq.  This hero spent 5 yrs as an enlisted Army Ranger, then 12 years as a Special Forces (Green Beret) Non-Commissioned Officer before obtaining his Commission as an Infantry Officer. His plan was to do his conventional force time (required before becoming a Special Forces Officer) then return to Special Operations Command.  He was wounded before this could happen.  The Special Forces Operations Command is involved because of his long history with them and the fact he was wounded supporting a Special Mission Task Force. 

Ivan is receiving blind rehab at the Augusta VA - his rehab is from 0800-1400 daily.  He is in Bethesda for the next several days for final reconstructive surgery, and then he'll return to Augusta until early April. He lives in a hotel near the Augusta VA.  He exercises at the Ft Gordon gym.Ivan also runs daily at varying lengths.  He runs a sub 8 min mile with a guide that can keep up. He is training to compete in the Boston Marathon which will take place on April 19. He ran a 4hr 14 min Marine Corps Marathon, but he went through 3 guides who couldn't make the distance...he stood for over 40 min while they found other guides.  In Tampa he ran a 1hr 50 min half marathon. He has also done some skiing. Blind Veterans

Ivan now needs some help because his wife - who has been at his side everyday for a year and a half had to return to work. Daily, Ivan needs an escort to the gym and a running partner. I am looking for escort volunteers to help with the transportation. At the gym he needs his escort to guide him to the equipment...He will do the rest. It will probably entail circa 3-4 hours each afternoon for the full month of March. I already have 3 volunteers but I need several more and we can then arrange a calendar. Please give me a call at 803-644-7394 if you can help or know anyone else who might be interested. We are also looking for some runner/guides who can keep up with him.

Posted by Dick February 19, 2008