U.S. Army Ranger First Lieutenant Dimitri del Castillo was killed in action on June 25, 2011 in Kunar Province, Afghanistan while serving with the 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division.
Dimitri was on the radio calling in support while his platoon was attacked by an enemy force small arms fire. Despite being shot and gravely wounded, he refused to give up the microphone and continued to call for support as he passed away. Dimitri, who had just turned 24, married his 2009 classmate, Captain Katie Pulliam del Castillo, prior to his deployment to Afghanistan. He is the nephew of Colonel Toney Filostrat, Class of 1993.
Dimitri is buried at the West Point Cemetery next to his friend and classmate, First Lieutenant Daren Hidalgo. Established by his family, the First Lieutenant Dimitri del Castillo Scholarship is a memorial to Dimitri’s selfless service and ultimate sacrifice to our Nation.
Supported by private and public donations, the scholarship provides educational assistance to family members of fallen U.S. Army Rangers. In just two years, the scholarship has exceeded $200,000 in donations and awarded nine scholarships totaling $45,000. The U.S. Army Ranger Association manages the scholarship fund on behalf of the del Castillo family, and 100% of donations go toward the scholarships provided.