Posted on 04/15/2009 1:07:14 PM PDT by Pyro7480
When duty called and the world was watching the pirate hostage situation unfold, Cmdr. Francis X. Castellano performed his job with honor and distinction.
As the commander of the destroyer USS Bainbridge, Castellano was on the front line of the rescue operation that freed Capt. Richard Phillips from the grips of the Somali pirates, who had boarded his merchant ship Maersk-Alabama, and taken him hostage four days earlier.
The rescue on Easter Sunday, April 12, involved Navy snipers who killed three of the pirates holding Capt. Phillips on a covered lifeboat after they left the recovered Maersk-Alabama.
“We all worked seamlessly together, ensuring that the mission was accomplished,” Castellano told MSNBC in an exclusive televised interview.
Calling the situation tense, the commander said, “In the forefront of my mind was ensuring that Capt. Richard Phillips was returned to his family safely and to the United States.”
Cmdr. Castellano, age 41, is a Fourth Degree member of the Knights of Columbus. He joined Patchogue Council (N.Y.) # 725 in 1986, before his 20th birthday, and became a member of Holy Cross Assembly 3048 in Tennessee in 2006....
Cmdr. Castellano is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and the Navy War College. He had formerly been assigned as an operations chief on the USS Cole, which was bombed by terrorists in October 2000....
Lisa Castellano, the commander’s wife of 19 years, spoke to Fathers for Good by phone two days after the rescue.
“He called me last night. I was happy to hear his voice,” she said, speaking from their home in Virginia Beach, Va., where they live with their two teenage daughters. “He wanted to talk to me and his girls, to see what was going on in our lives.”
(Excerpt) Read more at fathersforgood.org ...
Catholic ping!
I see I’m not the only one who got an alert from Fathers Forever ten minutes ago. Vivat Jesus!
I bet his middle name is Xavier.
...Francis Xavier.
I actually saw it on a brother Knight’s Facebook, but nonetheless... ;-)
USNA ping!
The Seals’ who participated will only be recognized in secrey. Which is as it should be. We don’t want them to be exposed to additional risk.
The Navy does take care of them..they will get recognition by a gratefull nation.
My Dad was 4th Degree (?) KOC way back when...I remember the cool cape & sword.
DGK of Council 13966. How ya’ doin?!
Cool! I can’t participate much in my council, other than being part of our 3rd degree team. We have one coming up this weekend.
Mombo Italiano!
He’s one honorable discharge away from being considered a right wing extremist terrorist.
Lol.
So an American Hero is on Obama’s terrorist list???? What a surprise
Zorro!!
No wonder the left was so quick to criticize HIM, and not the murdering, vicious pirates.
The other possibilities don't seem likely:
Xystus (after Pope St. Xystus I, 117-125, the sixth after St. Peter, or Pope St. Xystus II, 257-258, martyred on August 6, 258, or Pope Xystus III, 432-440--all better known using the spelling Sixtus)
Xiphilinus (name of a Patriarch of Constantinople)
Xanthippus (name of Pericles' father)
Xerxes (Persian king)
Xenophon (Athenian historian and philosopher)
Xenophanes (early Greek philosopher)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.