Battleship half marathon has special dedication to Army Specialist | News

WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) – The 14^th annual Carolina
Sports Medicine Battleship North Carolina Half Marathon will take place in
Wilmington this weekend and is being dedicated to Spc Kyle Castrovinci of the
US Army.

Castrovinci was  a
personal trainer at the Wilmington Athletic Club until he decided at the age of
33 he wanted to join the Army. He had to get a waiver since he was over the age
limit to join and had to prove his physical fitness level.

Castrovinci officially joined the Army in June 2011 as a
volunteer for the Airborne Infantry. A member of the 173^rd Airborne
Division, he was deployed to Afghanistan in July and was shot in the face
during a battle in September. He underwent surgery to remove the bullet from
his neck and came home to Wilmington for recuperation.

Two other Americans were killed during the same battle,
including Castrovinci's Platoon Sergeant. Two soldiers were also severely wounded.

Castrovinci is back in Italy to continue his recuperation
and will eventually return to fight with his unit.

"Just wanted to thank you all again for your
amazing support through all this," Castrovinci posted on Facebook. "It's definitely making this 'process'
easier to deal with. You guys are awesome."

In addition to Castrovinci, the race is dedicated to the
men and women who serve in the Armed Forces, to those who are serving in Iraq
and Afghanistan, and to the men who served on the Battleship North Carolina "The
Immortal Showboat."

The Battleship Half Marathon and Port Land Grille Battleship
5K starts and finishes at the Battleship North Carolina. The course crosses two
bridges over the Cape Fear River, goes through historic downtown Wilmington and
tours Greenfield Lake.

Click here for
a course map.

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