MSG(Ret.) Benjamin C. Austria, 89, died on Wed, Nov. 9, 2011. He is survived by his beloved wife of 66 years Irene, five children: Tess Nasis and husband Al; George Austria and wife Cindy; Lona Sanchez and husband Robert; Celia Boyce and husband Patrick; Leticia Austria. Ben was preceded in death by his parents Ruperto and Maria Austria, four sisters, his daughters Magdalena, Alicia Eastman, and son Benjamin Austria, Jr. Ben is also survived by seven grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. He was the eldest of nine children, four surviving him: Dominador, Conchita, Felicidad Restrar, and Ester De la Cruz, their spouses, and many nephews and nieces.
MSG Austria was born on Feb. 7, 1922, in Makati, Rizal, PI. He joined the service at Ft. Wm. McKinley on July 29, 1940, with the 12th Medical Batt., Philippine Scouts, and served during the Battle of Bataan in WWII. He was captured by Japanese forces, together with his father, a Medical Service Corps Officer. He escaped while on the infamous Bataan Death March, joined the Philippine Guerillas, and later the 1st Cavalry Division for the liberation of Manila. He was assigned as Combat Medic and Point Man with the 11th Airborne Div. He served as rifleman and Medical NCO, 2nd Infantry Div. during the Korean War until September 1950, when he was hospitalized until May ‘51 with severe malaria. Until April ‘71, he served in various assignments with the U.S. Army, including Tripler Gen. Hosp. in Hawaii, Walter Reed Hosp. at Washington, D.C., 1st Armored Div. at Ft. Hood, Tx, and Brooke Gen. Hosp., Ft. Sam Houston, where he was Chief Wardmaster, a position he held until his retirement. Post-US Army career, he worked at Nix Hospital as the Dir. of Central Supply until the mid-80's. MSG Austria was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Commendation Medal, and Prisoner of War Medal, and many other decorations. He was Soldier of the Month twice at Brooke Gen. Hospital and twice at 1st Armored Div. at Ft. Hood, TX. Until the last years of his life, he was an avid bowler with several leagues at AstroBowl and Wonder Bowl. He was a long-time fan of the SA Spurs, UT Longhorns, and Chicago Cubs.
Public viewing and rosary will be held Thurs., Nov. 17, at 6 p.m. and 7, respectively, with time for remembrances until 8 p.m., at Sunset Memorial Park. Funeral mass is at 9:30 a.m on Fri. Nov. 18, at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 4427 Moana Dr., 78218, with interment ceremony at Ft. Sam Houston Cemetery, 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in MSgt. Austria’s name to St. Thomas More Catholic Church.
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