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Fort Bragg soldier injured in Iraq dedicates time to others

U.S. Army Maj. Ivan Castro, a special operations soldier, will never forget what happened on Sept. 2, 2006 while serving in Iraq.

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FORT BRAGG, N.C. — U.S. Army Maj. Ivan Castro, a special operations soldier, will never forget what happened on Sept. 2, 2006 while serving in Iraq.

"I was on a roof top and I had just released some of my guns and two mortar rounds came in," he said. "One landed five feet from me and left me severely injured, and totally blind."

Two of Castro’s men died that day.

Castro, appreciative of his second chance at life, now spends his time helping other military families as the director of the Special Operators Challenge.

The program organizes several grueling races to raise funds for military families.

Some of the races are for children and their parents while others require participants to eat, drink and run.

Castro does not run the races, but said he is right beside the participants in spirit.

"I try to give back to the community," he said. "I am very blessed that I was given another opportunity at life. I want to make sure that every day that I live I give back and make a difference."

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