SAN ANTONIO –
Army Chaplain Maj. Calvin Park looks on while Lt. Col. Matthew S. Moore shakes hands with his wife Christina, and his son Joshua, as he recalls the events of the past year that have brought them to where they are now. Many will describe Chaplain Park and his family as resilient, but he identifies it as faith.
Hailing from Seoul, South Korea, Park followed the call to Army Chaplaincy. “As a Chaplain, I’m trying to do my best to serve our Soldiers and their families. Right now, our unit mission is bringing the right person to our system,” Park stated. “I hope I can be a good influence on the new people who are choosing to make the Army a career as a chaplain,” Park continued. “I hope they get inspired from our story and see the benefit of the Army and the ministry and how they both show their support.”
Two years ago, Park’s son, Joshua was accepted into a chaplain candidacy program that was due to graduate summer 2024. However last year, the family experienced a life-threatening emergency when Joshua went into end-stage heart failure. His heart almost stopped beating and was left 10% functioning at the time. “We’re now waiting on a heart transplant. It’s dependent on God’s grace,” Park shared. The Parks believed they were going to lose their son. “We’ve received so many prayers and help from everybody. We’re so grateful for everything we’ve received.”
“With God’s grace and help through doctor’s hands, he survived. We’re so thankful,” Park continued. “Usually as a chaplain, we support everyone who needs help, but this time I could feel the Army as a big family supporting us with whatever we needed. And the unit, the people, the commanders, the leaders, all the team members, I can’t say thank you enough to them. They’ve shown me so much grace through their encouragement.” Park affirmed, “This has been such a great experience. With their support, I feel I’m not alone. We feel we’re surrounded by the right people, by good people. The Army is one I can trust. I feel like, ‘Ok what can I do for the Army?’”
When asked how his son was doing now, Park stated, “He’s doing great now.” Joshua, who is 25 years old today, now has the Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) System which is an artificial pump for his heart. He underwent surgery in November 2023, is in recovery and is partaking in a cardiac rehabilitation program which is designed to exercise his heart. “We’re trying to expand his lifetime with the artificial pump, which he’s maintaining his daily life with right now,” Park explained. The pump allows Joshua more mobility and he’s walking around which is a definite improvement from the previous year. “We’re waiting for the heart transplant, which would have to be an exact match – or else we could be in a dangerous situation again,” Park expressed.
Joshua is back in school studying through an online program and is slated to graduate in December 2024 from the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, TX. “He’s answering the call. He wants to be a minister so that he can help other people going through similar situations,” Park revealed. During their time in the hospital, Park and Joshua had many conversations with hospital staff, one of which was a chaplain who told them, “This is a great story because a lot of patients are experiencing life or death situations. You’ll be someone that can give them hope through your story.” Park stated, “Joshua thought about it and said, ‘Yes, I think that’s why God gave me another life.’ He wants to be a chaplain to serve Soldiers and their families too.”
Throughout all these obstacles, Park’s recruiting station has been incredibly successful meeting and exceeding unit mission with an incredible180% success rate. When asked how he was able to juggle both family concerns and still highly contribute to the success of the mission, Chaplain Park had one word, “Teamwork.”
“They’re such great recruiters and chaplains. I understand their mission and how important it is – Army starts with them,” Park continued referring to his teammates. The South Central Army Chaplain Recruiting Station led by Army Chaplain Maj. Walter McCall, Officer in Charge, and Sgt, 1st Class Estephan Wilson, Station Commander, oversee a team of noncommissioned officers and chaplain recruiters. “Bringing the right people into our system, our chaplaincy, that’s our future. The new chaplains will learn and grow doing ministry and then will lead our chaplaincy for the next 10 to 20 years,” Park stated. “That’s why I feel we have such great values, a great system, and a great team contributing to bring good people, good ministers to our Army. I really appreciate their hard work.”
Park has advice for those who may be encountering personal struggles of their own. “Ask for help. If we don’t ask for help, people won’t know what you need. Army is family, we’re all trying to help each other.”
A pillar for his family, Park’s faith never wavered. “As a spiritual person and from a religious aspect, you have to have trust and faith in the Lord,” Park divulged, sharing how he leaned heavily on his faith to help rally and navigate him and his family through all that has transpired.
“Lastly, trust the Army system,” he offered, referring to Tricare. “Once we understood what was available to us, they tried to find a way to help us too.”
Park is especially grateful of Army leadership and the South Central Army Chaplain Recruiting team for all the support they bestowed upon him and his family. “The Brigade and Battalion Commanders personally called, and we had great conversations about this,” Park commented. “I really appreciate the Army and all the leaders of our unit and recruiting stations; they truly support the recruiters,” he expressed. “They shared our burdens together.” Park revealed the chaplain recruiter team never hesitated to offer their support. “There is such a great spirit in our team, so I really appreciate them.”
For more information on the South Central Army Chaplain Recruiting Station, please contact them at: 817-394-0028 or via email: usarmy.knox.usarec.list.9d9x@army.mil
For more information on the Army Chaplain Program visit: https://www.goarmy.com/chaplain.html