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Please Email us any stories you may have Mcasteel2112@yahoo.com but in the meantime don't forget to sign the guest book thank you.
When
I was a vocational instructor in Caro at the skill center I had a girl
in my class from Millington, her name was Shane. She was a cute little
blond and at first it was hard for us to believe she really wanted to be
a carpenter. She did well in the class and she always talked about her
boyfriend. I left there in 1985 to teach army ROTC at Central Michigan
University. I was simply called to active duty since I had been in the
National Guard since 1972. I was there 4 years and never went back to
Caro because I wanted to be a school principal. After being a principal
for 7 years I was called back to active duty and sent to the country of
Latvia to try to teach them about democracy. I was a full colonel at the
time and the highest ranking US officer in the country, in fact
there were only 4 of us in the country. It
was a hard but greatly rewarding experience. I brought in teams of
Americans to do lots of things and teach lots of subjects to the Latvian
military. We were instrumental in getting the US Government to
give the Laveians several thousand of our older, long range rifles.
Latvia has a lot of open plains areas as well as some beautiful forests.
It was a good weapon for them but we needed to have someone come
to teach them how to use them. One
Sunday afternoon in March of 1998 I went to the airport to meet a
military aircraft that came from Bosnia. On it were some of the greatest
soldiers I have ever known. That was the first time I ever saw Big Tony.
He was a sergeant (E-5) at the time and awell trained marksman. On
his 12 man team he was the weapons expert and the team sniper. I believe
they were in Latvia for 6 weeks. Tony left a legacy of teaching
many Latvian soldiers how to shoot, disassemble and maintain the new
weapons they had received. He also taught them camouflage
techniques they still use today. I
hit it off with Tony right away. I talked to him about going to
school in Millington and at the skill center in Caro. He said he
had taken Shane to a prom or homecoming or something but it didn't last
long between them. Tony was a very good soldier. He had
better values thne some on his team. He was sort of the right kind
of example for them to try to emulate. Myself and 2 other
Americans were saddened by his death and we can attest to some great
good he did in a place that is no longer behind the iron curtain.
Latvia is a free, democratic nation with a growing economy. They got
into NATO 2 years ago and also into the European Union. Before
they could do that they had to demonstrate that they could defend
themselves and help defend their neighbors. Tony had a big part in that. Roger
L. Allen Dream...Believe...Achieve
I
was one of Tony's best friends and when we were together on ODA 044 all
he talked about was Chey. We had similar situations, I was divorced with
a small daughter and son. Tony looked so forward to seeing her and got
excited as time got closer to visitation. I will e-mail her and she can
call any time she wants to talk. I love Tony and will never ever forget
him. God
bless you and your family, JM
I
have been devastated by the loss of Tony and the Holidays were very
tough. He and I were also in constant commo from Mosul, which
always made him feel near and I could
Two
hundred Green Berets arrived at Mosul Army Airfield today from all of
the outposts
throughout
northern Iraq and stood in rows to salute our friend, our brother as he
was placed
on
his last aircraft home, under the stars and stripes he loved so much.
De
Oppresso Liber. Robert
C. Gully CPT
SF Detachment Commander
While
assigned to the training branch for the Special Forces (A) Green Berets,
I worked at the Selection and Assessment Committee for two and half
years. While working there
I met many men trying their best to earn the Green Beret, as we all know
not everyone can earn it. During
my time there, many men passed through the course so you do not really
remember any of them and some you never do or want to.
I left an impression with many of the students because you are
not there to be there friend your there to do a job.
Well one day you are going to meet up with these men once you
return to the Group. Therefore,
I go back to the Group I left 10th Special Forces Group (A)
prior to being assigned to the schoolhouse.
The Unit is deployed to Italy in support of the Bosnian War.
During our time there Tony and I became friends he remembered me
from the course when I was Cadre. You
always need to trust the men you work with and know they will have your
back when the time comes. Tony
was one of those men. I was
always impressed with his ability to work on guns and everything else he
laid his hands on. I had
some hard times back in 1995 and he was there to help me out, so needles
to say I spent some time at his house and
we put some miles on the scooters.
It was time for me to go back to Germany with the Unit so he and
I parted ways. During that time he received his orders to work at the School
House, last I heard he wanted to stay there and go to another Group
instead of placing hardship on his family with the move and stuff.
It is sad for me that we never were able to joke and laugh about
old times together. I know
we will meet again one day and he is looking forward to it.
Tony we will miss you. Brost
my bother. MSG
Ward Enos
I served with Tony for many years in both 10 SFG at Fort Devens and the Training Goup at Fort Bragg. A short story. Our Training Battalion was hosting a group of senior officers from Hungary who were visiting to learn how to set up a Special Forces training program and of course they met all the senior NCO's responsible for instruction. One of our other 10th Group friends (Sammie and Teresa) hosted a BBQ at their house where everyone was going to socialize. The senior Hungarian officials were in complete awe when Big Tony began talking perfect Russian with them. Most Hungarians learned Russian from the occupation days and were so surprised that a mountain man from America could speak so well. They spent hours talking. When the Hungarian commander and his group departed back to Hungary he told me it was a highlight of their visit; a chance to visit with Green Berets in a social environment where they learned so much about us as people.
Hey Chey, you don't know me but I was a friend of your Dads. We met thru a mutual hobby, SKYDIVING! after making numerous jumps together and riding bikes we became great friends. Your Dad had mentioned you several times and said how he wished he could see more of you. Right before your Dad left for Iraq he and some of my friends gave me a 45cal. pistol for a going away present, since I was leaving USASOC and deploying back to Afghanistan. I will always think of your Dad when I carry this pistol, Tony himself ordered it and put some special grips on for me. I will always think of your Dad and remember all the good times we shared together. You need to remember this, your Dad loved you more than anything in this world and trust me when I tell you, he will always be looking out for you! Your Dad was a great Man and a True fiend of mine who I will always will remember. Chey, when I get back from Afghanistan, if you are ever want to talk you just give me a shout!
IF you were a Team member, assigned with Tony or served with him in any way you can email me your story and I'll post it here on this page MCasteel2112@yahoo.com
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