Fallen Soldier: Samuel Castle

Staff Sergeant Samuel Castle, 26, of Naples, Texas, died May 11, 2005, when an explosive detonated near his convoy in Asad, Iraq. He was with the 35th Signal Brigade, Fort Bragg, NC.

SSG Castle was born on June 12, 1978, in Linden, Texas. He graduated from Hughes Springs High School in 1996 where he excelled in baseball & football. He was an active member of the Love Chapel Baptist Church. Following High School, he went to Tyler Junior College before joining the military. “He really was going to make a career out of it,” his mother said.

Della Payne said she last heard from her son on Mother's Day. "He was pretty upbeat," she said. "He said, 'Mama don't worry about me. I'm coming home. I'm coming home.' But we never thought he'd be coming home this way."

While serving SSG Castle met and married his wife Nicole, who was a soldier in the 51st Signal Brigade
SSG Castle is survived by his wife and son, Samual and daughter, Mia.