Father James Calasara was born in the Philippines on July 6, 1934. After serving his Diocese as priest he joined the military as Chaplain. He was Chaplain of the Philippine Navy, became the first Philippine Marines Chaplain, worked in Guam as Diocesan Priest and joined the United States Army as Chaplain. He served two great allied countries, the Philippine and the United States of America as soldier, priest and educator. In 1966 Father James retired from the US Army with the rank of Major. In 2002 when the war in Iraq broke out he was recalled to active duty. Fr. James awards include the Army Commendation Medal (two oak leaf cluster), National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Army Service Ribbons, US Airborne, Philippine Parachutist Badge and Philippine Marines Long Service Medal. He made his own golf course, The El Padre Golf and Country Club in Dixon Missouri. He is a professional golf instructor and a member of the United States Golf Teachers Federation. In November 2003 he played the Golf Teachers Cup. Some of the books he wrote are: The Fighting Priest, Jokes for Everyone, The Holy Land Memories of a Pilgrim, and Christianity in Poetry.
