Photo By Justice Vannatta | Mr. Sterling Cale, who was an 18 year old hospital pharmacist’s mate (Corpsman)...... read more read more
As Dec. 7 looms, we are reminded of the “Day That Will Live in Infamy.” That fateful Sunday morning etched itself unforgettably into the annals of time. Seventy-five years later, we honor the valiant courage of our military and civilian Ohana who fought that day -- some to their deaths -- to save their ship, and
to protect and save the lives of crew mates and others. In all, 2,403 people lost their lives in the attack and many more were wounded. The events that took place at Pearl Harbor that day forever changed Hawaii and the United States of America.
Mr. Sterling Cale, who was an 18 year old hospital pharmacist’s mate (Corpsman) assigned to the U.S. Naval Hospital at “C” Landing on Dec. 7, 1941, personifies the resilient reputation of the all-American hero.
Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard & IMF’s Public Affairs Office had the privilege of talking with Mr. Cale and documenting his remarkable story of that ill-fated day. What a gift it was to speak with Mr. Cale. Please read his story. He worked here then and you work here now.
We are Pearl Harbor. This is our history. This is who we are.
Sir, you were born on November 29, 1921 and raised in Macomb, Illinois. It would seem like you had a date with destiny the moment you left the farm.
Why did you decide to join the U.S. Navy?
It was very simple actually. The recruiter came from Chicago looking for recruitments and I needed to find a career. It worked out perfectly.
Mr. Cale, you graduated as a hospital pharmacist’s mate (Corpsman) from the school in San Diego, Calif., than assigned to the U.S. Naval Hospital at “C” Landing, Pearl Harbor, Hawai’i.
What were your first impressions of Hawaii?
My first impressions I thought, was this was the most beautiful place I had ever seen. Riding the train from downtown to the Navy Yard, all I saw was blue skies and the blue ocean, it was like paradise.
In 1941, you met and courted your future wife, Victoria Vienna Ventula.
How did you two meet?
I was on night duty at the dispensary and one of the boys from the Navy Yard came in and said he was feeling ill. I gave him some cough medicine and he said he wanted to repay me by introducing me to a beautiful young woman that was a friend of his and worked for the Pineapple Company. A week later we met, and the rest is history.
You and your wife had two children.
What part of the island we’re you guys living at?
We had a home and raised our children in a place near the Airport called Damon Tract. On M road and Kaimana.
Do your children still live in Hawaii?
My daughter just made 70 years old, and calls Hawaii home. My son, who is 71, lives in Sacramento, and retired from Apple. I have four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
You were working the overnight shift at the Pearl Harbor naval dispensary on the morning of December 7th 1941. Your work shift ended at 0700 in the morning. Without a moment’s notice, you witness Japanese planes attacking Battleship Row. What were your immediate thoughts?
I was just getting off of work, waiting to catch the train home, when all of a sudden I see planes flying over the mountain coming towards Pearl Harbor. I thought that this was an odd day for the Navy to be running drills. One of the planes circled in front of us and I had seen a red circle on the tale of the plane and said those are Japanese planes, and then all of a sudden “BOOOOOM!” the bombs started blowing up everywhere. People were running and screaming. It was chaos.
It is documented, that during the attack, you rushed toward the USS Oklahoma and helped to rescue sailors from the waters of Pearl Harbor. Can you describe some of the things you were seeing?
The Oklahoma took torpedoes to its hull and sank in 12 minutes, killing 429 people. The diesel fuel leaked from the hull and caught fire. I had been training to be a Frogman and could swim pretty well. So I jumped in the water to start saving people. I had to swim under the water because the surface was on fire. Four hours later, I had pulled out 46 people. Some were dead already. Some were badly injured. Some were completely burned. Their skin was tearing off in my hands. Four hours had passed by so quickly, but I was so exhausted.
After the attack, you were assigned - along with 10 other men - to “ride out to the USS Arizona and start recovering bodies.” Respectfully sir, what was going through your mind at that moment?
On the following Wednesday, an Admiral who came from Hospital Point came up to me and said “I want you to gather up 10 people, grab the battle wagon and go to the USS Arizona.” Days after the attack the Arizona was still on fire. So by Friday we were finally allowed to go there and start retrieving bodies. I had said to the other soldiers that they were going to see “God awful stuff,” but these were our orders and we have to start pulling the bodies up. So we started bagging the bodies and sent them to Red Hill.
What was the sailor/worker morale like in Pearl Harbor after December 7th?
I was still working as a Hospital Corpsman and people were asking me if I hated the Japanese? When I first was stationed in Hawaii there were so many Japanese-Americans that I befriended, I would never hate them. I will never have hate in my heart or my mind for anyone. As a Hospital Corpsman, you only have time to save lives; I have no time for hate.
What was life like for the state of Hawaii after the attacks?
People were very scared. Everyone’s morale was down. There were mandatory blackouts, curfews, and other restric tions in place during the Martial Law. The islands became one large military base and businesses owned by Japanese civilians were closed. The FBI, Army, and local police arrested anyone they considered to be a threat. Residents were fingerprinted and required to carry identification cards at all times. People thought the Martial Law would only last a short time, but this lasted for almost three years. Curfews and blackouts even lasted to July 1945.
After the attacks, with no break in military service, you transferred to the U.S. Army in 1948 and saw duty with the 5th Regimental Combat Team (24th / 25th division) in the Korean War from 1950-1951. And, as an Army Sergeant Major and State Department Civilian, you saw duty in Vietnam from 1955-1974. Could you please describe what the war in Korea was like?
In November 1950, we were in Busan South Korea. The North Koreans booby trapped everything, from cans, bodies, vehicles and foxholes. I remember I had to sleep with 2 grenades in my hand because the Koreans would come into sleeping areas to slit soldier’s throats. Later on in my life, I was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and my family couldn’t touch me while I was sleeping because I would jump out of my sleep wanting to kill them.
You retired with 57 years of government service in March 2005. What an incredible life you have lived. Looking back at your life, what would you like your legacy to be sir?
I have been fortunate enough to have been all over the world to many different countries, telling the same stories I just told you. I have met and talked to four presidents. I have a loving wife with beautiful children as well as grandchildren. I was fortunate to have survived the three wars I fought in for our country. These are the things that I want people to remember me for, my love for my family and my love for my country.
It has been a true honor to meet you sir. On behalf of Captain James Kalowsky, Commander of Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility, and the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard Ohana, with the sincerest gratitude, thank you for honoring your service to our country. You are a true American hero and it has been an absolute privilege and an honor to meet you.
Be sure to check out Mr. Cale’s book: A True American: The Story of a Pearl Harbor Survivor, World War II, Korean and Vietnam War Veteran.
| Date Taken: | 12.01.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 12.08.2021 15:43 |
| Story ID: | 410747 |
| Location: | PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII, US |
| Hometown: | PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII, US |
| Web Views: | 221 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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