OUR KOREAN WAR STORY: Frank P. Calderon, veteran

Erica Calderon submitted to Legiontown the war history of her father, Frank. It is now part of the new Our Korean War Story category on the site; add your story here.

“Frank P. Calderon was born July 29, 1930 in Canton, Ohio. At the age of 16, he tried to enlist into the Marines, but was turned away. He was drafted a few years later into the U.S. Army in April 1951 during the Korean conflict. He was assigned to Artillery in the 1st Armored Division (Old Ironsides) at Fort Hood, Texas. Frank's division was deployed to Germany on USS Geiger as support to the allied troops against the Soviets. He was one of nine crew members who fired the 37 mm cannons and 50 caliber machine guns. He was honorably discharged for his services in late March 1953.

“Frank moved to Los Angeles in 1969 and married Pearline Calderon in 1965 (lasting 55 years until his death), and raised a family of four children in Lynwood, Calif. His family has a large number of veterans from all branches extending from World War II to the Iraq war, including both of his sons. Frank passed away Feb. 24, 2020, and is buried at Riverside National Cemetery. He will be mostly honored on Memorial Day by family and friends for his compassionate and relentless advocacy (driven by his enormous faith in God) for the Constitution our forefathers gave us and the freedoms our soldiers gave so much for; for his volunteerism and community accomplishments that improved the quality of life for vulnerable seniors, the disabled and other veterans; and for his positive outlook on life, his sense of humor, and his motto that guided him through life: ‘Love for God first, Family second and Country third.’

“Frank was a life member of The American Legion for 49 years, at Post 653 in Los Angeles. He was also a member of the Disabled American Veterans for an equal amount of time. Frank enjoyed his veteran brothers and sisters. He helped commission a veterans memorial in Lynwood. He went to many Memorial Day and Veterans Day events. I can see my dad standing in Heaven on Memorial Day, proudly saluting our veterans laid to rest.”