Marine from Long Lake dies in car crash

Marine from Long Lake dies in car crash

By DAVID TAUBE--dtaube@poststar.com
Posted: Thursday, June 9, 2011
U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Caleb Austin served multiple tours of duty overseas, and was ready for another tour in Afghanistan, said his father, Kevin Austin, of Houghton, in western New York.

"He certainly loved his country, he loved his God, and he loved his wife," said Austin, after his son died Sunday in a car crash in West Virginia.

Caleb Austin, a Long Lake Central School District graduate, served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Though one of his close friends had died on his last tour of duty and he had suffered from symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, Kevin Austin said his son planned to return to Afghanistan because he believed that's where God wanted him to be.

Caleb Austin took his faith seriously, and had a number of Christian tattoos, including a cross draped with dog tags that listed the last names of three friends, his father said.

One of those friends, Steven Clark, and Austin's squad leader from Afghanistan will escort his body from West Virginia to Long Lake for his funeral on Saturday and military funeral on Sunday. He will be laid to rest in Long Lake Cemetery.

Kevin Austin last saw his son when he and his wife visited New York City for Fleet Week, a celebration that honors the U.S. sea services.

"It just made a world of difference to him to know that there are people who really do genuinely care and are grateful," Austin said.
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Marine from Long Lake dies in car crash