Fifteen years ago, Barry Castellano passed away on July 22, 2000. He was 44. He suffered a medical condition at his home in Whitmore Village, taken to Wahiawā Hospital, where he passed later that night.
At the time, Barry was the commander of the 293d Combat Communications Squadron (293 CBCS) at Hickam AFB. In civilian life, he was a senior network controller, working for Verizon.
Barry was a proud graduate of Wai‘anae High School, and was the first from his school to receive an appointment to the United States Air Force Academy. After his graduation and commissioning, he served on active duty for several years with his last tour at Hickam AFB as a part of the Pacific Communications Division (PCD).
In his job, he interfaced frequently with the 201st Combat Communications Group (201 CCG). When he left active duty, Barry joined the Hawai‘i Air National Guard becoming a member of the 201 CCG.
At the 201 CCG, he worked in staff positions, and became the commander of the 298th Air Traffic Control Squadron on Kaua‘i. Barry returned to Honolulu to become the commander of the 293 CBCS at Hickam AFB.
He left the Hawai‘i Air National Guard to be as he said, “a fulltime father who was around for his children.” But he did promise to return when his children were older. At the time of his passing, he recently returned to the HIANG and started a second tour as the commander of the 293 CBCS.
Barry was the consummate officer and a truly outstanding individual.
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