“His story is a reminder of the sheer sweep of our global mission, and his experiences exemplify the risks inherent to intelligence work, as well as the bravery and integrity of those like Barry who heed the call to serve their country.”
CIA Website
July 19, 2026 — Barry S. Castiglione died in El Salvador in July 1992, while rescuing a fellow employee from drowning. Like Ranya Abdelsayed, who died by suicide, his star on the CIA Memorial Wall has sparked questions and remains a point of controversy among some intelligence experts. Should a CIA officer receive a star for dying during a Sunday barbecue? What do you think? Follow us on Twitter: @Intel_Today
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Early Years — Barry Castiglione was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on February 8, 1955. His childhood and early education (Kindergarten through 10th grade) took place in Natick and Newton, Massachusetts.
The family later relocated to Italy, where Barry completed his final two years of high school at the Notre Dame International School in Rome, graduating in June 1973.
In 1977, he graduated from St. Bonaventure University in New York State with a degree in Political Science and Economics.
Life in the Military — He joined the United States Marine Corps in 1977. He completed Basic Training at Parris Island, South Carolina, and went on to attend Infantry School at Camp Pendleton, California.
Life at the CIA — In July 1982, Barry Castiglione joined the Central Intelligence Agency and was assigned to the Office of Logistics as a supply officer trainee.
Final Mission — In the summer of 1992, only a few months after returning from an overseas assignment in Asia, he volunteered for another temporary duty (TDY) in Central America.
“On Sunday, July 19, 1992, Barry and several CIA colleagues were at a beach house in El Salvador. One member of the group waded into the ocean and was suddenly caught in a powerful rip current.
As she struggled and began to panic, Barry and another colleague moved to assist her. Despite the strong current pulling her further out to sea, Barry reached the woman first and encouraged her to conserve her strength by floating rather than fighting the current. His colleague soon arrived and was able to help her back to shore.
Tragically, Barry had exhausted himself in the rescue attempt and lacked the strength to return through the current. He drowned before additional help could reach him.”
Memorial and Book of Honor
Barry Castiglione is remembered with a star on the CIA Memorial Wall. His name is now inscribed in the CIA’s Book of Honor. It was made public during the Agency’s 2012 annual ceremony.
Barry was posthumously awarded the CIA’s Intelligence Star in recognition of his selfless, courageous, and heroic efforts to save a colleague’s life.
“There’s been an erosion of understanding in CIA leadership for at least two decades about what the wall is for and who it is that we’re commemorating… Now we have a suicide star on the wall. That’s not what the wall is for. Suicide is a great tragedy, of course. But the purpose of the wall is not to show compassion to the family. It’s to show who in our community is worthy of this honor.”
CIA historian Nicholas Dujmovic
Many observers argue that the original intent of the Memorial Wall was to honor those who died under heroic, inspirational, or adversarial circumstances, and they lament what they see as a departure from that purpose.
Barry Castiglione’s star on the CIA Memorial Wall has occasionally sparked quiet debate within the intelligence community and beyond. Some, echoing sentiments like those of Dujmovic, argue that the Wall should be reserved for those lost in operational settings or hostile circumstances. Castiglione drowned while trying to rescue a colleague during an off-duty gathering — not amid an active mission.
Yet others maintain that his actions exemplify the very essence of selfless service: risking, and ultimately giving, his life to save another member of the Agency. Deployed overseas on assignment, operating in a foreign environment, and displaying extraordinary courage under pressure, Castiglione’s sacrifice — though unconventional — reflects the highest values of duty, loyalty, and heroism that the Wall was meant to honor. What do you think?
REFERENCES
Heroes — Barry S. Castiglione. CIA Website
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CIA Memorial Wall — Remembering Barry S. Castiglione (El Salvador – July 19, 1992)
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