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BASTROP, Texas -- “My first jump as a Ranger was in 1983, and I ended up in a tree,” says Cmd. Sgt. Maj. Paul D. Callaway as he contemplates a career of jumping out of aircraft. “It’s only fitting that my last jump would also end up in a tree.”
This time, the command sergeant major of 1st Battalion (Airborne), 143rd Infantry missed the tree. However, as he leaves the Army after 27 years for a civilian life, he says the tree will not be the only thing missed.
“It’s a neapolitan of different feelings,” Callaway says of his retirement. “It’s sad, it’s happy, it’s depressing; it’s surreal. This is pretty emotional for me; I can’t recall, other than funerals, shedding a single tear while in the Army.”
Callaway served on active duty for seven years with the 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment and with the 25th Infantry Division. His 20 years in the Army National Guard have been with units such as Golf Company, 143rd Infantry (Long Range Surveillance); Troop H, 124th Cavalry (Brigade Reconnaissance Troop) and the 36th Infantry Division.
The Smithville, Mo., native says that when someone has served in the military as long as he has, it becomes a family. He is now leaving his Army family so he can be with his civilian family. “I don’t want to leave, but it’s time for me to go. I’ve missed my family’s birthdays, Christmases; everything. I want to go on my own terms, while people still need and want me here.”
His wife, Katherine, says Callaway will probably have a difficult time leaving the Army. She says he will be happy a new phase of life is coming, but sad to leave his fellow Soldiers.
“I’m ready for it. It will be good to have him all to myself,” says the San Antonio, Texas, native. “He’s out of town quite a bit. When he’s been home for a while, we joke around by saying, ‘isn’t it time for you to go somewhere again?’”
Callaway met his wife while stationed in Hawaii. Katherine was on vacation at the time and says he was her souvenir of the trip. They have been together for 22 years and married for 10.
Callaway’s awards include the Bronze Star Medal, three Army Meritorious Service Medals, six Army Commendation Medals, five Army Achievement Medals, Master Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, Pathfinders Badge, Expert Infantryman’s Badge and the Ranger Tab.
“We don’t make up acronyms or design things, so the way we enlisted folks leave our legacy is through the guys we’ve influenced,” he says. “We pass on a little bit of ourselves and that is how we hope to be remembered.”
| Date Taken: | 07.12.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 07.12.2010 14:00 |
| Story ID: | 52722 |
| Location: | BASTROP, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 207 |
| Downloads: | 146 |
This work, Stand up, buckle up and shuffle to the door, by SGT David Bryant, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
