[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 2155]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 REMEMBERING COLONEL (U.S. ARMY RETIRED) WILLIAM EDWARD CALLENDER, SR.

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BRADLEY BYRNE

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 28, 2014

  Mr. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to remember 
the life of Colonel (U.S. Army Retired) William Callender of Mobile, 
Alabama. Colonel (U.S. Army Retired) Callender, known affectionately to 
his family as `The Colonel,' passed away on January 17, 2014, and was 
laid to rest in Pine Crest Cemetary in Mobile on January 22.
  An avid Alabama Crimson Tide football fan, Colonel (U.S. Army 
Retired) Callender, was born in Mobile on September 17, 1937, 
graduating from Murphy High School in 1956 and the University of 
Alabama in 1960. He was married to his wife, Jacqueline, in 1958 and 
began his career in military service directly after his college 
graduation in 1960.
  Colonel (U.S. Army Retired) Callender was sent to serve in Vietnam, 
earning a Purple Heart, Distinguished Flying Cross, the Soldier's Medal 
and the Gallatry Cross with Bronze Star Medal. He was truly an American 
hero, selflessly putting himself in harm's way to protect the lives of 
his peers.
  But Colonel (U.S. Army Retired) Callender's service continued even 
after his multiple tours in Vietnam, becoming known in South Alabama 
for his work on behalf of America's military veterans and earning the 
Gulf Coast Veteran of the Year Award in 2006. After retiring from the 
U.S. Army, Colonel (U.S. Army Retired) Callender began working at the 
University of South Alabama in Mobile, as well as serving on the 
Baldwin County School Board.
  Upon his full retirement, he and his wife Jacqueline moved to Orange 
Beach, Alabama, serving on the Battleship Commission and enjoying his 
much-deserved retirement fishing. He will be greatly missed by his 
family--his wife, Jacqueline, his three daughters Ginger Hawkins, Cyndi 
Callender and Tammy Hadley, and his 12 grandchildren and 8 great-
grandchildren.
  South Alabama lost a great man on January 17 with the passing of 
Colonel (U.S. Army Retired) Callender. We thank him for his service and 
remember him for his courageous spirit fighting to defend our country.

                          ____________________