Guy W. S. Castle

He led sailors through hidden fire to seize the customhouse.

Guy Wilkinson Stuart Castle was born in Portage, Wisconsin, in February 1879 and entered the United States Naval Academy from that state in May 1897. Graduating in 1901, he served in a succession of cruisers, battleships and gunboats before receiving his ensign’s commission in 1903. His early sea assignments included the Asiatic Station, where he served aboard USS Kentucky from October 1901 to July 1902.

Castle became one of the Navy’s early submarine officers. During 1907-08 he commanded Plunger and Shark, served in Pike and helped prepare Porpoise and Shark for operation from Cavite after their transport to the Philippines. Subsequent battleship duty and an assignment at the Naval Academy broadened his experience before he joined USS Utah in 1913.

During the American intervention at Veracruz on 21-22 April 1914, Lieutenant Castle commanded Utah’s bluejacket landing battalion. Its sailors fought ashore as infantry during the attempt to secure the port. Castle led them through both days of action, including the seizure of the customhouse under prolonged fire from concealed positions. His courage, steadiness and handling of his men brought the Medal of Honor.

He was promoted to lieutenant commander later in 1914. In May 1916 he moved to the Bureau of Steam Engineering in Washington, where he served during the First World War and advanced to commander in 1917. After the Armistice he took command of the transport Martha Washington, helping return troops from Europe. Under his command the ship made repeated Atlantic voyages.

Castle died aboard Martha Washington in August 1919 and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. He left a career that linked early submarine development, engineering administration and transport work with the two days of shore combat for which he was decorated.

Medal of Honor Citation

For distinguished conduct in battle, engagements of Vera Cruz, 21-22 April 1914. Eminent and conspicuous in command of his battalion, Lt. Castle was in the fighting of both days, and exhibited courage and skill in leading his men through action. In seizing the customhouse, he encountered for many hours the heaviest and most pernicious concealed fire of the entire day, but his courage and coolness under trying conditions were marked.