More detail on this person: James DeWitt sent
the following to Mike Law who sent it to The
Aviator: here is the obit for Bill as it appeared
in the Mobile Register. The bold and underscored
print were my emphasis in addition to adding a few
important points that were omitted in the obit.
The obit says he served "multiple" tours [I
believe he served 2 tours?] his first tour was as
a ground pounder, much of his time was spent as a
LRP; then he returned for a second tour as a
helicopter pilot. Not included in the obit: Bill
served as president of the Alabama Battleship
Commission and was selected for inclusion in the
Alabama Aviation Hall of Fame. Bill was very
active in South Alabama Honor Flight and gave key
support in securing the South Alabama Veterans
Cemetery.
Colonel (US Army Retired) William Edward
Callender, Sr. died on January 17, 2014. He is
preceded in death by his sister Magalyne Bell, his
brother Al Callender, and his son William Edward
Callender, Jr. He is survived by his wife
Jacqueline Bachar Callender; his three daughters
Ginger (Jay) Hawkins, Cyndi Callender and Tammy
(Jeff) Hadley, 12 grandchildren, and 8
great-grandchildren. He will be deeply missed by
friends and family. Known as Bill, Billy, Willy,
Dad, Granddaddy, and most often and affectionately
'THE' Colonel to family and friends, Colonel (US
Army Retired) Callender was known for his work for
veterans, his service on the Battleship
Commission, his decorated military career, and his
love of fishing and Alabama football. He was born
in Mobile, Alabama on September 17, 1937 to Alton
Brooks and Ouida Adelle (Everett) Callender; he
was a graduate of Murphy High School, Class of
1956 and the University of Alabama, Class of 1960.
Colonel (US Army Retired) Callender also has
graduate degrees from Kansas State University and
the University of South Alabama. He and Jacqueline
were married in 1958 and he began his military
career in 1960. He served multiple tours in
Vietnam and was the recipient of the Purple Heart,
Distinguished Flying Cross, the Soldier's Medal
and the Gallantry Cross with Bronze Star Medal. He
was also awarded the Gulf Coast Veteran of the
Year in 2006. After his military career, Colonel
(US Army Retired) Callender moved into a second
career working at the University of South Alabama
and the Baldwin County School Board. When he
fully retired, he and Jacqueline moved to Orange
Beach, Alabama where he spent his time serving on
the Battleship Commission, advocating for
veterans, traveling with his wife, and fishing.
The family will receive visitors to view Bill from
4pm to 8pm on Tuesday, January 21, 2014 at Pine
Crest Funeral Home and Cemeteries, 1939 Dauphin
Island Parkway in Mobile. The funeral service will
be held Wednesday, January 22, 2014 at 2pm at
the Battleship Memorial Park, 2703 Battleship
Parkway in Mobile. Burial will follow in Pine
Crest Cemetery.
Published in the Mobile Register and Baldwin
County from Jan.18 to Jan. 19, 2014
MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - FOX10 News has learned
retired Army Colonel Bill Callender, the immediate
past president of the Battleship commission, has
died. Callender died from complications related to
a recent fall, according to Executive Director of
the USS Alabama Battleship Bill Tunnell. "Bill
fell last weekend off his deck and cracked two
vertebrae in his neck and eventually passed away
from complications from that accident," said
Tunnell. Callender was a decorated veteran who
served two tours in Vietnam. His first tour in
Vietnam was as an Army ranger. He sat down with
FOX10's Eric Reynolds for The Interview in 2012
and talked about his time in the military. "The
mission was to go out and look and listen, but it
was dirty and stealthy, quiet and hazardous, very
hazardous," said Callender. During his second
tour, he returned as an Army helicopter pilot.
"That little bitty metal on there doesn't protect
you very much, we did have armor seats up front,
no armor seats in the back, no armor in front of
you, and you're just sitting or slow moving
target," said Callender. Flags are flying
half-staff at the place Callender loved, USS
Alabama Battleship Memorial Park. Callender
believed places like the memorial park are
important reminders of our past and the cost of
freedom. Executive Director, Bill Tunnell,
remembers his friend. "His leadership was
absolutely incredible. He had a huge heart but he
was a great administrator and a great leader. He
had a great vision for what the park needs to be,'
Tunnell. Callender will be remembered for his
service and his heart for those who've served. "I
was blessed to have great men, young and old to
do the missions with...God bless them all," said
Callender in 2012. Callender's close friend Hal
pierce says "his passing is a stark reminder of
our mortality. he says life goes on but it ain't
the same." Bill Callender was 76
This information was last updated 05/03/2013
Please send additions or corrections to: HQ@vhpa.org VHPA Headquarters
Return to the Helicopter Pilot DAT name list
Return to VHPA web site
Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
Copyright © 1998 - 2024 Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association