John Kalausich was born on April 27, 1925, in Crystal Block, Logan County, West Virginia. He was the son of Eli Kalausich and Mary Rokrich. After graduating from East Bank High School, he worked as a metalworker in Charleston before enlisting in the Army Air Corps in 1943. He served in the 642nd Bomber Squadron, 409th Bomber Group, Light, as a Sergeant and Navigator of A-26B #43-22353 during World War II.

On March 21, 1945, A-26B Invader 43-22353, assigned to the 642nd Bombardment Squadron (Light), 409th Bombardment Group (Light), was flying in the same formation en route to strike the rail hub at Dülmen. When the leading aircraft (43-22359) was hit by intense flak, the resulting explosion tore apart part of its wing, sending debris and shrapnel into the path of 43-22353. The fragments damaged the engine nacelle and critical control surfaces, causing a rapid loss of power and control authority. With no altitude to recover and no opportunity for the crew to bail out, the aircraft went into an uncontrolled descent and crashed near Hülsten-Holtkämpe, approximately 5.5 km southeast of Reken, killing all on board.

In 2016, German researcher Adolph Hagedorn identified a site in Hülsten-Reken that matched his aircraft, leading to excavations that recovered aircraft wreckage, personal effects, and possible human remains. Kalausich's remains were identified through mitochondrial DNA, dental, and anthropological analysis. A rosette was placed beside his name to signify he had been accounted for, and he is now buried in the Tyler Mountain Memory Gardens, Cross Lanes, Kanawha County, West Virginia, USA.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.army.mil, www.fieldsofhonor-database.com