Austin McCalister WWII
Austin is my father. He is Van, Haley and Ian's grandfather; and Miles, Ethan, Nolan and A.J.'s great grandfather. My dad served in WWII in the Army Air Corps and Corps of Engineers in the Pacific theater, first in the Philippines and then landed in Japan right after the atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki - I believe near Tokyo. (There's a photo of him standing in front of some bombed out ruins that I couldn't find this morning - I'll post it later.) In fact, if the bombs had not been dropped and he'd landed in active combat, it is conceivable that none of us McCalister offspring would have been born.
Dad entered WWII voluntarily but reluctantly since he was a pacifist and did not want to be responsible for sending an un-believer to hell because he killed him in combat. So, he began as a dental assistant. However, later he was troubled by the fact that so many other men were risking their lives in combat that he changed his status from pacifist to combatant. Thankfully, the Lord protected him from having to take another life - an act that I know would have haunted him all of his life. Dad had an extremely strong sense of conscience and concern for being a faithful christian and live in a manner that was pleasing to God. So, I know that his original decision to be a pacifist was also made out of concern for not breaking the commandment "Thou shalt not kill" as Bibles were translated in the 1940s. Now, many modern Bibles make the distinction between "kill" and "murder" - the Hebrew being "do not murder" rather than "do not kill".
After landing in Japan dad was put to work directing some of the reconstruction efforts because he was an experienced carpenter. What a blessing since that was so much more in keeping with dad's conscience to build rather than destroy. So, on this Memorial Day I honor my dad, his integrity, his courage, and his commitment to follow Christ.
Me, Kevin and Van next to dad's red Ford pick-up, which was used to transport the casket to Three Rivers where he is buried. The pick-up was his request. He didn't want his casket transported by a hearse.
Haley behind dad's flag draped casket.
Mark Trask and Sr. Master Sgt. Kevin Hanat provide a military burial.
