Colonel Retired
September 5, 1919 — September 24, 2010
Colonel James M. Callender, USMC, Retired Colonel James Martin Callender, 91, of Atlantic Beach Florida and San Antonio, Texas was taken home to be with the Lord and with his beloved wife, Nancy, on September 24, 2010. Colonel Callender led a quite remarkable life. He was born in Port Neches, Texas to Pearlie and Nevada Callender on September 5, 1919. After a number of years in Port Neches, the family moved to Beaumont, where his Father was a bookkeeper with the Texas Company. James graduated from Beaumonts South Park High School in 1936 and entered Lamar Junior College intending to become a petroleum engineer. He decided to apply and take the exams to earn an appointment to the US Naval Academy and was ultimately appointed by Congressman Martin Dies and entered the Naval Academy in 1938. His class was one of several that were graduated early because of the impending war. He graduated as a member of the Class of 42 in December of 1941, barely two weeks after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He was then chosen to enter the Marine Corps and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant. After initial training, he was posted as a Company Commander to a Coastal Defense Gun Battalion on the island of Samoa, for approximately two years. He was then posted to tours as the Commanding Officer of the Marine Detachments on board the USS Guam and the USS Franklin Roosevelt, participating in several notable surface engagements. Captain Callender was one of the first Marines in Japan after the surrender. Shortly after returning home from war, Captain Callender met and married Nancy Mundy Baldwin of Auburn, New York. At the start of the Korean War in 1950, then Major Callender was posted as Operations Officer of the 3rd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment which deployed to Korea in October of 1950. Over the next two months, Major Callender and his unit played a key role in one of the most epic and storied events in Marine Corps history, the Chosin Reservoir Campaign. In winter weather as cold as 40 below zero, the First Marine Division was surrounded and attacked by a Communist Chinese force over ten times its size. In fighting along narrow mountain roads and passes, the Marines fought their way 60 miles to the sea and safety, nearly decimating the Chinese forces. Major Callender was awarded the Silver Star with Combat V for heroism under fire and the Purple Heart for wounds sustained in action. After returning from Korea, Major Callender was posted to the US Naval Academy where he served as a Naval Gunfire Instructor, Company Tactical Officer and coach of the Rifle Team. Major Callender received assignments as the Commanding Officer, 2nd Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, then as Executive Officer of the Marine Corps Barracks, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and Assistant Chief of Staff G-3 at Marine Corps Schools, Quantico, Virginia. Upon promotion to the rank of Colonel, he was posted to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations in the Pentagon for two years and was then assigned to the National War College. He also earned a Masters Degree in International Affairs from George Washington University during this period. In July of 1965, he returned to his military specialty, artillery, as Commanding Officer of the 12th Marine Regiment in Da Nang, Republic of Viet Nam. After returning from Viet Nam, he was posted to the Armed Forces Staff College as the Senior Marine Liason Officer. His final assignment was at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, first as Chief of Staff and then as Assistant Base Commander. Colonel Callender retired from active duty in June of 1971. Colonel Callender was also awarded the Legion of Merit (two awards), the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, the Presidential Unit Citation and numerous theater and campaign ribbons. Colonel Callender continued with an active life as he went on to earn a PhD in Educational Administration from the University of Florida and work for Florida Junior College for several years. He was able to pursue his lifelong hobby of golf through years of volunteer service with the Florida State Golf Association and the USGA. He went on to become a member of the Rules Committee of the United States Golf Association and officiated numerous US Open golf tournaments as well as many other USGA tournaments. He was awarded only the second Lifetime Achievement Award given by the Florida State Golf Association. His wife, Nancy, who was an accomplished golfer in her own right could often be found running the scorers tent at many tournaments. Colonel Callender resided in Atlantic Beach, Florida for many years before moving to San Antonio upon the death of Nancy in 2006. Colonel Callender is survived by his brother, William of Portland, Oregon; two sons, James, Jr. of Seattle, Washington and Jeffrey of San Antonio, Texas and six grandchildren, Carrie of Dublin Ireland, James Martin, III of Shallotte, North Carolina and Jordan, Jared and Jonathan of San Antonio and Allie of Seattle, Washington. Colonel Callender will be interred at the National Cemetery at Quantico, Virginia alongside many of his beloved fellow Marines. Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to the Alzheimers Association or to the First Tee program of the USGA. The Colonel would say, Semper Fi and Carry On .
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