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CALLAHAN Jack Lee Callahan passed away peacefully at home on March 6, 2010. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Robin, and his son Martin. Jack was born on Dec. 7, 1922 in Phoenix, Arizona and moved to Texas with his family in 1925. He worked as an aircraft mechanic at Kelly Air Force Base, Texas from 1941 until he enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1943. Jack completed B-24 Bomber transition training at Boise, Idaho, and, with his crew, was selected as the "Best Combat Crew" during training. In 1944, he traveled by ship to Italy to join the 756th Bomb Squadron, 459th Bomb Group at Giulia Field. Jack served as Lead Crew co-pilot and was awarded the Air Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster. He returned home to San Antonio in June 1945. Jack flew crop dusters after the war and graduated with a BBA degree from Trinity University in 1949. During the Korean War, he flew helicopters with the 39th Air Rescue Squadron, 3rd Air Rescue Group out of Seoul, Korea and Ashiya Air Force Base, Japan. Jack was awarded a 2nd Oak Leaf Cluster to his Air Medal for evacuating wounded soldiers from the front lines to rear area hospitals. He served as pilot for Generals Mark Clark, William Dean and W.C. Westmoreland. A member of his helicopter crew in Korea was a brother to a member of his B-24 Bomber crew in WWII. After the Korean War, Jack flew support missions for the first successful U.S. launch of a satellite at Cape Canaveral, Florida. He later served as a communications and electronics officer until retirement at the rank of major from the U.S. Air Force in 1968. Jack graduated with a Master of Education degree from Our Lady of the Lake University in 1968. He worked as a guidance counselor for the Texas Rehabilitation Commission for 14 years before retiring from the state. Jack also taught psychology part time at San Antonio College and enjoyed teaching Sunday school at his church. He was a Mason and a member of the 459th Bomb Group Association and the Korean War Veteran's Association. SERVICES Visitation will be held from 6:00 - 8:00 PM Thursday, March 11, 2010 at Mission Park Funeral Chapels North. A graveside will begin at 2:15 Friday, March 12, 2010 at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery with Full Military Honors. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Primera Iglesia Bautista Mexicana, 201 Meredith Drive, San Antonio TX 78228.

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Jack Lee Callahan

December 7, 1922 - March 6, 2010