1. Pearl Harbor survivor
2. Sterling Robert Cale.
Sterling Robert Cale, World War II Veteran and Pearl Harbor Survivor, Passes Away at 102
Feb. 15—Sterling Robert Cale, a Pearl Harbor survivor who served the United States throughout World War II, as well as in Korea and Vietnam, and then met thousands of visitors as a volunteer at the Pearl Harbor National Memorial, died on Jan. 20 at his home in Aiea. He was 102.
Cale’s son, Sterling Ventula Cale, fondly remembered him as “a humble leader.”
“He is the reason I am the man I am. Growing up with my father gave me that foundation. He taught me all the things that later on I would use in my military career for 23 years, and beyond,” shared Sterling Ventula Cale.
Sterling Robert Cale was born and raised on a farm in Illinois. After completing high school, he enlisted in the Navy and excelled in his training as a pharmacist mate. Due to his exceptional performance, he was given the opportunity to choose his duty station, and he chose Hawaii.
A Hero’s Journey: Pearl Harbor and Beyond
On the morning of Dec. 7, 1941, Cale had just finished his overnight shift as a hospital corpsman at the Pearl Harbor dispensary when he heard gunfire and witnessed the Japanese attack. Without hesitation, Cale took it upon himself to retrieve rifles for himself and several other sailors, an act for which he was initially reprimanded but later commended.
Cale also displayed immense bravery by commandeering a small boat and leading two other sailors in rescuing survivors from the burning oil in the harbor. His expertise as a diver led him to be assigned to the team responsible for recovering human remains from the sunken USS Arizona.
Pearl Harbor was only the beginning of Cale’s wartime service. He was then sent to Guadalcanal in the South Pacific to serve as a medical corpsman with the Marines, and later as a pharmacist’s mate aboard a submarine.
In 1948, Cale transferred to the Army and continued his service in Korea and Vietnam. He retired with the rank of command sergeant major, completing a remarkable military career.
A Legacy of Strength and Sacrifice
Reflecting on his father’s experiences, Sterling Ventula Cale revealed the lasting impact of war on his father’s psyche.
“I finally asked my father 20 or 30 years later, and he said that whenever he stepped in or touched the Pacific, he’d immediately go back to Dec. 7, the burning flash in the burning oil and all that stuff. The PTSD. Because he was a strong swimmer, he had to swim under the burning oil to rescue these men — some already dead, some badly wounded, some dying,” shared Sterling Ventula Cale.
After retiring from government service, Cale became a beloved volunteer at the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center. He shared his experiences with school groups, signed copies of his book, “A True American: The Story of a Pearl Harbor Survivor, World War II, Korean and Vietnam War Veteran,” for visitors from around the world, and celebrated birthdays with family members and well-wishers outside the park bookstore.
Survivors include Cale’s daughter, Estralita Cale Hoover, and four grandchildren. Funeral services will be held on March 7 at the Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery in Kaneohe.
Sterling Robert Cale’s passing marks the end of an era, but his legacy as a courageous veteran and selfless volunteer will continue to inspire generations to come.
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– Pearl Harbor survivor Sterling Robert Cale
– Pearl Harbor survivor Sterling Cale dies at 102.
