Private First Class Castaneda was a member of the 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy near Taejon, South Korea on 20 July 1950.

PFC Castaneda was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.