Kade Susumu Castillo Koichi Kurita

Kade Susumu Kurita was born on May 9, 1999 in Honolulu Hawaii. The third oldest of 6 children, Kade was a true stand out. He was very quiet and reserved (although he didn’t stay that way!) enjoyed reading and loved dinosaurs. From a very young age he could tell you the proper names of each dinosaur and if they were herbivores, carnivores or omnivores. Many times we would wake up to dinosaurs migrating across the living room, over couches and under tables. His love for dinosaurs never faded.

Once in school he excelled in his studies from elementary to high school always in the top 2% of his class. He was always up to assist anyone who needed help in any way, shape, or form. He would often eat lunch with his middle school math teacher and end up tutoring anyone who came in for help. There were times he would almost be late for class because he was holding the door open for everyone else to enter. He always greeted you with a smile and a firm hand shake or hug.

At age 11 he joined Boy Scouts, completed his Eagle Scout Project at 13 and passed his Eagle Scout Board of Review at 14 years old. He stayed on in scouting until he aged out at 18. Mentoring the younger scouts and leading his troop to flourish and grow. Many of the scouts signed up for Troop 242 because Kade was there.

In high school Kade continued to shine bright. Maintaining straight A’s in all of his classes and taking 4 AP/Honors classes per semester. He was on the cross country team and swam on the swim team for 4 years, captaining it for one. He volunteered to tutor others in math, science, chemistry, and Japanese. Kade never gave less than 100%, whole heartedly. He was also known to bust out a free style rap on demand.

Whatever Kade put his mind to, you could be certain it was going to get done. That’s why at age 8, when he said he wanted to go to West Point Military Academy, although shocked at first, I knew he would be part of the Long Grey Line. In May 2016, he was selected to attend the Summer Leadership Experience at West Point, a week long look into the life as a cadet. He was hooked.

He started Basic Training on July 3, 2017 lovingly known as Beast. Kade served proudly as a member of Hotel Company 1st Regiment, and was widely respected throughout his Company and the Corps as a whole for his commitment to selfless service. In true Kade form he maintained a 4.0 GPA and was ranked 75th in his company. A Chemical Engineering major, a member of the Root Hawg Sandhurst team for 2 years, serving as a Team Leader throughout this year, the Cadet in Charge on the Cadet Film Forum, and conducting research at the Picatinny Arsenal in New Jersey were only a few of his accomplishments and interests.

He will forever be remembered as the most kind, considerate, loving person. Someone you could always count on to help lend a hand or cheer you up, who always put others ahead of himself, to a fault.

I love you, we love you and miss you, your smile, your hugs and your, “I love you’s.” Until we meet again…