CityView Magazine

CityViewNC.com | 43 But the Pacific Crest Trail was a unique test for him. He and Darlene Matos, his close friend and primary care provider, started out from the Mexico-California border in April of last year. She guided him for mile aer mile each day by holding the ends of a hiking pole between them. He held a second hiking pole in his other hand. "Day One, we almost quit," Matos said. "He was kicking rocks the entire day. Stepping on them and bruising his feet or twisting his ankle or knee. "And we would have quit," she said, "except we've always said that if we're going to quit, we're not going to quit on a bad day. If we quit, we'll end on a good note, surrounded by good people. Because then we'll be sure in our decision." ey completed the trail at the northern terminus of Canada, finishing in October aer months of carrying their camping gear, water and food on their backs. It's one more chapter in an already amazing story. "Physically and emotionally this was actually the hardest thing he's ever done," said Matos, herself a Special Forces veteran. "But I'm glad we didn't quit." While others thought it improbable, Castro returned to active duty aŽer 17 months of recovery and rehabilitation. Castro retired from the Army aŽer 28 years of service in 2016, a decade aŽer he was blinded. FAYETTEVILLE 2043 Skibo Rd. Suite #101 Fayetteville, NC 28314 (910) 864-1500 FAYETTEVILLE - SHOPPES AT RAMSEY ST 4251 Ramsey St Ste 102 Fayetteville, NC 28311 (910) 557-9500 MassageEnvy.com M-F 8A-10P | S 8A-10P | SU 10A-8P ME-DNLD-1936-V2-002-8x11 MASSAGE | FACIALS | STRETCH FAYETTEVILLE-SHOPPES AT RAMSEY STREET 4251 Ramsey St Ste 102 Fayetteville, NC 28311-2130 (910) 557-9500 FAYETTEVILLE-SHOPPES AT RAMSEY STREET 4251 Ramsey St Ste 102 Fayetteville, NC 28311-2130 (910) 557-9500 M-F 9a-8p | S 9a-8p | Su 10a-6p ME-DNLD-1936-V2-002-8x11 MASSAGE | FACIALS | STRETCH FAYETTEVILLE-SHOPPES AT RAMSEY STREET 4251 Ramsey St Ste 102 Fayetteville, NC 28311-2130 (910) 557-9500 FAYETTEVILLE-SHOPPES AT RAMSEY STREET 4251 Ramsey St Ste 102 Fayetteville, NC 28311-2130 (910) 557-9500 M-F 9a-8p | S 9a-8p | Su 10a-6p FAYETTEVILLE-SHOPPES AT RAMSEY STREET 4251 Ramsey St Ste 102 Fayetteville, NC 28311-2130 (910) 557-9500 M-F 9a-8p | S 9a-8p | Su 10a-6p FAYETTEVILLE-SHOPPES STREET 4251 Ramsey St Ste Fayetteville, NC 28311-2130 (910) 557-9500 MASSAGE | FACIAL | STRETCH NEW LOCATION NOW OPEN t FDIC INSURED All we see is you , NOW TRUIST Other than what he has gleaned from others, Castro remembers little from that fateful incident in Bagdad in September 2006. e blast from a mortar round le him gravely injured and fighting for his life. His struggle to survive in the ensuing months, his will to carry on like a good soldier, would be from a state of eternal darkness. e blast had ripped a shoulder apart, down to the bone, and drove the frame of his eyewear into his face, and he suffered life-threatening injuries, including a broken arm, nose and cheekbone, as well as collapsed lungs.

• Cover