Paul Castro Receives Honor with a Military Banner

COLTON>> Bravery and sacrifice are just two reasons why those who fight to protect America deserve honor and gratitude. With this in mind, a military banner was installed for U.S. Army veteran and longtime Colton resident Paul Castro. Castro volunteered to serve in the army in 1967 and served during the Vietnam War for two years, one of which was spent in combat. He was in the Company B First battalion in the Corporal Combat Transportation Unit in Southeast Vietnam. He was awarded five medals for his time in the service:the National Defense Service medal, Vietnam Service medal with two bronze stars, the Vietnam Campaign medal, a Cross Bar and a sharpshooter decoration medal. On Wednesday, Feb. 2, members of Castro’s family gathered on Valley Boulevard in Colton to commemorate him through the installation of his banner. One attendee was Castro’s sister, Jean Molina. “One of my granddaughters and I decided to put a banner up for him because he was a hero to us,” Molina said. “He deserved it.” Although the banner was suggested by Molina and her granddaughter, Katrina, Molina said the funding was a combined family effort. “All the family talked about was what a wonderful person he was and he deserved it, and we were going to do it; we were going to put his banner up,” Molina shared while reflecting on what motivated Castro’s family to honor him. Castro grew up in Colton where he attended Woodrow Wilson Elementary School, Colton Middle School and Colton High school. Castro was one of eleven children and Molina said they were all close and that he was a loving brother. After he finished his service, he married his wife, Jenny Castro, and they had five children and seventeen grandchildren. Castro supported his family working in construction and as a truck driver. Many people saw Castro as an honorable family man who cared for everyone. Molina said he loved to take his grandchildren to the park and that he loved dancing, playing baseball, gardening and just spending time with his family whenever he had the chance. “Our brother had a big heart. He was always helping anyone who would come asking for it,” Molina said. “Our brother was one of a kind, there’ll be no one like him with such a big heart.