Rank: Private First Class
Unit: C Troop, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
MOS: 11D – Armor Reconnaissance Specialist
Awards: Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device, Purple Heart Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Badges: Combat Infantryman Badge
Unit awards: Presidential Unit Citation, Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm device
Enlisted by: Selected Service
Date of birth: 1-May-1946
Hometown: Compton, California
Marital status: Never Married
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Entered service: 5-Dec-1967
Start of tour: 11-May-1968
Incident date: 9-Jul-1968
Date of casualty: 9-Jul-1968
Age at death: 22
Cause of death: Hostile, Died. Grenade. Multiple fragmentation wounds.
Hugo Carlos Castaneda died from a wound received while driver of a military vehicle on combat operation when engaged hostile force in firefight.
Two Blackhorse troopers died in this incident:
PFC Hugo Carlos Castaneda
PFC Charles Cook Jr
Location of fatality: Binh Duong, South Vietnam
Place of interment: Woodlawn Memorial Park, Compton, California, USA
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BRONZE STAR MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE
POSTHUMOUS
PRIVATE FIRST CLASS HUGO CARLOS CASTANEDA
9 JULY 1968
C TROOP, 1st SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Private First Class Castaneda distinguished himself by heroism in connection with military operations against a hostile force on 9 July 1968 while serving with Troop C, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date, Private Castaneda was participating in a reconnaissance in force mission in the vicinity of Lai Khe when suddenly his armored cavalry vehicle received a direct hit from an antitank rocket which wounded a number of the crewmen. Private Castaneda, totally disregarding his personal safety in the face of the intense concentration of the enemy small arms, automatic weapons and antitank rocket fire, remained with the disabled vehicle to place highly-accurate suppressive bursts from his machine gun upon the enemy while his wounded comrades were removed to safety. An instant after his comrades had been removed to a safe position, Private Casteneda was mortally wounded. Private First Class Castaneda’s unwavering devotion to duty, deep concern for the welfare of his comrades and disregard of his personal safety while under hostile fire were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.
Headquarters, II Field Force Vietnam General Orders No. 969 (17 August 1968)