September 2, 2026

By Mary Beth Bracy, consecrated virgin
North Country Catholic

This is the second article in our Heritage and Heroes series.

For Dr. Bill Caldon, life in the military is a family affair. Bill and his wife, Margaret, are originally from Kentucky but moved to the North Country decades ago. They are members of Holy Cross Parish in Plattsburgh, where Bill also co-owns High Peaks Dental.

Dr. Caldon is also a veteran of the United States Air Force.

“I would like to say it (enlisting in the Air Force) was totally out of patriotism but in reality, it was more due to need and pragmatism,” he said. “In my senior year of dental school, I was concerned with the fact that I was not a speed demon in completing my scheduled procedures and was wondering how I could generate enough income to support a family.”

An Air Force recruiter convinced him service with the branch would address his concerns, and he enlisted.

Dr. Caldon and Margaret were first stationed at the now-closed Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Michigan, where their first two sons were born. The young family was later stationed in Italy.

“(The assignment overseas) was really challenging for Margaret, who had a two-year-old and a six-month-old while living 12 miles from the base, initially without a car and no phone for the first two years,” Dr. Caldon said. “She had no access to paper diapers, no washer or dryer, so she was washing all of the diapers by hand and air drying them. There were other challenges with lack of water, sweltering heat in the summer and no heat in the winter... I went to work on base each day while she was home just trying to survive. Anyway, the Air Force offered me a two-year residency in general dentistry and once again Margaret gave up possible careers to allow me to follow my advancements in dentistry and the military. She is the real hero in our 20-year Air Force experience and the one who made all the sacrifices.”

After completing the requirements to be considered a general dentist in the military, Dr. Caldon’s responsibilities and skills increased.

“During my career, I served as an educator and director of a one-year general practice residency, commander of three dental squadrons and board examiner for the Armed Forces Board of General Dentistry among other positions,” he said.

The Caldon’s are faithful, lifelong Catholics.

“Both Margaret and I were raised Catholic,” Dr. Caldon explained. “She went to Catholic grade schools and a Catholic High School, as did I, as well as attending a Catholic College. Our Sacrament of Matrimony was concelebrated by three priests who were professors at the Catholic High School which I attended. So, both of us had a very strong Christian foundation in our relationship. With all of the forced moves, we either needed to find a new civilian parish or, if overseas, become part of the base parish. Being overseas was a great experience because you were forced to be a true faith ‘community.’ There were no choices of parishes to belong to, no extended families to rely on... If you wanted the community to be vital, you needed to step up and do what needed to be done. Margaret reminded us that it wasn’t called the ‘Now Air Force’ for nothing: Now you’re a musician. Now you’re a singer. Now you’re a lector. Now you’re a lay Eucharistic Minister.”

The Caldons’ beliefs have also impacted their military service.

“I have no doubt that without our faith, the challenges would have been a lot harder to face,” Dr. Caldon said. “Our oldest child went to the Air Force Academy, and it is a physically and mentally grueling experience, especially the first 10 months before you are recognized. In addition to many other activities, he was a member of the Catholic choir. He said that in the chapel was the only place that he felt safe and was at peace and he didn’t know how the other young adults who did not have a strong faith as a basis could have coped. Probably not as acute as for our son, being God focused allowed us to endure any of our challenges with acceptance and even joy.”

Military life helped prepare Dr. Caldon to live out his faith today.

“All of our experiences made us appreciate how important our faith is in our everyday life and how faith is more than a personal decision and commitment, it is a community,” he said. “We are the body of Christ. It is all of us together. Also, to be a good Christian requires courage, discipline and integrity, all character traits that are required in the military.”

While his practice schedule limits Dr. Caldon’s ability to participate in parish ministries, Margaret is very active in Holy Cross Parish.

“She attends daily Mass religiously often bringing grandchildren who don’t normally go to Mass at all, is doing Vacation Bible School with a granddaughter and her friend, cleans the church and works on the grounds etc. I could go on and on,” he said. “She carries the weight of the family commitment.”

The martyrs in the stained-glass window featured in this article gave their life in defense of the faith. Dr. Caldon said such sacrifices are similar to those made by those who serve in the military.

“It’s the ultimate sacrifice for something that is worth believing in and sacrificing for,” he said. “As Christians, we are all asked to be willing and ready to make that sacrifice. There are things that go far beyond our corporal existence here. The sacrifice that American soldiers are asked to make I believe overlaps with our Catholic commitments. They are both for noble and greater causes that far surpass any worldly or temporal motivations. Our 20 years in the military were relatively easy with no deployments, and (we were) not imminently in harm’s way… Those families that endure regular deployments and losses are true heroes, and I can’t imagine how they cope without strong faith as an anchor.”

Dr. Caldon said he is grateful for the gifts of faith, family and freedom.

“We have been so blessed with four incredible children and 11 amazing grandchildren,” he said. “All four of our children have served. One is retired Air Force, two are still serving and one is taking a hiatus from the Air National Guard to raise her children. We have had unbelievable opportunities to travel, experience different cultures and attend Mass in countries throughout the world. It is truly a Universal Church and, although the Mass may be in a different language, it is still the same miracle of the Eucharist. I believe all this has helped keep us focused with God and our faith at the center of our lives. We have the freedom to openly practice our faith, which is not the case in many countries. That freedom is because of the sacrifices that American military families make on a daily basis.”