Joshua Casteel was a former U.S. Army interrogator, a conscientious objector, a playwright, and a divinity student. He died of lung cancer at the age of 32 in 2012. His family and many others believe that his cancer was caused by the toxins he breathed in from the burn pit at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, where he served in 2004 and 2005. This article will explore his life, his service, his activism, and his death, as well as the ongoing issue of burn pits and their impact on veterans’ health.
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A Soldier Turned Pacifist
Joshua Casteel was born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and raised in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in a Christian evangelical family. He joined the Army Reserves at 17 and attended the University of Iowa on an ROTC scholarship. He studied Arabic and became an interrogator, hoping to use his skills to prevent another 9/11. He was deployed to Iraq in 2004, six weeks after the scandal of prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib broke out. He was assigned to the 202nd Military Intelligence Battalion and conducted over 130 interrogations at the prison.
However, his experience in Iraq changed his views on war and violence. He had a pivotal encounter with a Saudi prisoner who challenged him to follow his Christian faith and love his enemies. Casteel felt a deep conflict between his role as an interrogator and his calling as a Christian. He applied for conscientious objector status and was honorably discharged from the Army in 2005.
A Writer and a Scholar
After leaving the military, Casteel pursued his passion for writing and theater. He enrolled in the Iowa Playwright’s Workshop, where he received his MFA. He wrote two plays based on his experiences in Iraq, Returns and The Interrogation Room, as well as a book of e-mails he wrote while serving, Letters from Abu Ghraib. He also became an outspoken critic of the war and a member of Iraq Veterans Against the War. He lectured widely about his transformation and his views on peace and justice.
In 2010, he enrolled in the Divinity School at the University of Chicago, where he studied theology, philosophy, and religion and literature. He was interested in exploring the ethical and spiritual dimensions of human existence, especially in relation to war and violence. He was also a devoted friend and a compassionate person, according to his roommate and fellow student Aaron Hollander.
A Victim of Burn Pits
In 2011, Casteel was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer, despite having no conventional risk factors such as smoking or asbestos exposure. He underwent chemotherapy and radiation, but his condition worsened. He died on August 25, 2012, in New York City.
His family and his doctors suspected that his cancer was caused by the exposure to the burn pit at Abu Ghraib, where he slept and worked near. Burn pits are open-air fires where the military disposes of waste, such as plastics, metals, chemicals, medical waste, and human remains. The smoke from these pits contains a toxic mix of pollutants and carcinogens that can cause serious health problems for those who inhale it.
According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, there were more than 250 burn pits operating in Iraq and Afghanistan at the height of the wars. The VA also maintains a registry of veterans who were exposed to burn pits, which has over 200,000 entries as of 2021. However, the VA does not officially recognize the link between burn pit exposure and illnesses such as cancer, and many veterans have faced difficulties in getting compensation and treatment for their conditions.
Casteel’s mother, Kristi Casteel, has been advocating for more research and recognition of the burn pit issue, as well as for legislation that would provide health care and benefits for affected veterans. She has also joined a class-action lawsuit against the contractors who operated the burn pits, such as KBR and Halliburton. She hopes that her son’s story will raise awareness and inspire action to help other veterans who are suffering from the same fate.
A Legacy of Hope and Courage
Joshua Casteel’s life and death are a testament to his courage, his integrity, and his hope. He was a soldier who became a pacifist, a writer who gave voice to his experiences, and a scholar who sought to understand the meaning of life. He was also a victim of a war that he opposed, and a catalyst for change and justice. He faced his illness and his mortality with grace and faith, and he left behind a legacy of inspiration and love. He is remembered by his family, his friends, his colleagues, and his fellow veterans, as well as by many others who have been touched by his story.
