The final recognized Pearl Harbor assault survivor residing in Hawaii was laid to relaxation Thursday alongside his late spouse on the Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery in Kaneohe.
Sterling Robert Cale was 102 years previous when he died Jan. 10 in his Aiea residence, which neglected Pearl Harbor’s battleship row. Even into the final years of his life, Cale often volunteered on the Pearl Harbor Nationwide Memorial to share his experiences with guests. He would spend nearly each birthday exterior the bookstore there, typically posing for photographs with guests and letting out his catch phrase “Prepared, goal, fireplace !” because the digicam clicked.
“It did not matter what number of occasions I’ve heard that, I smiled simply as a lot because the individuals who heard it the primary time—it was at all times enjoyable, ” recalled C.R. Drumhellier, commander of American Legion Put up 17. “He was animated across the cake, giving fist bumps, and the youngsters beloved it. Mothers and dads clearly beloved it, too.”
Throughout a eulogy, his grandson Sterling Robert Cale Jr. mentioned he was “at all times humble, sort and affected person. He by no means complained, even when he was in ache. I might at all times ask him how he was feeling at this time, and his reply to me was at all times the identical : ‘I really feel with my fingers. How do you’re feeling ?'”
However although he was recognized for his humorousness, he additionally carried with him painful reminiscences of warfare.
Cale was raised in rural Illinois by adoptive dad and mom, however most of the defining moments in his life occurred in Hawaii—an obligation station he had particularly chosen. He had seen photos of the seashores and hula women and knew that is the place he wished to go.
He joined the Navy and have become a pharmacist’s mate. On the day of the assault, he had simply completed an extended evening of working on the base hospital. When Japanese planes flew into the harbor strafing and bombing American forces, Cale was amongst those that grew to become a part of the trouble to rescue sailors who had gone overboard when their ships have been attacked.
The ships leaked oil, which quickly caught fireplace. The water’s floor was burning, forcing Cale and different serv ice members to swim underwater beneath the flames as a lot as doable as they struggled to rescue trapped and drowning sailors.
Cale was within the water serving to survivors when the united statesArizona exploded. Of the two, 390 People killed within the assault, 1, 177 have been members of the Arizona’s crew.
After the preliminary explosion, the Arizona continued to burn for 2-1 /2 days. Cale grew to become a member of a 10-
particular person element that spent three weeks eradicating the our bodies from the burning battleship, a lot of which have been maimed and charred past recognition.
However regardless of being surrounded by loss of life and warfare, Cale additionally discovered time in Hawaii for all times. He fell in love with Victoria Ventula—a neighborhood lady who danced hula—and married in 1942 at historic Kawaiaha ‘o Church.
In the course of the warfare Cale went on to serve within the Pacific and fought within the Battle of Guadalcanal. He stayed within the Navy till 1948, then joined the Army, the place he would serve a long time in medical items. In Hawaii he served as head of the pharmacy at Tripler Army Medical Middle and at a medical firm at Schofield Barracks.
He served within the Korean Conflict and after returning residence was despatched to language college the place he realized French and Vietnamese. He did a number of excursions in Vietnam as soldier and after leaving the navy returned to Vietnam with the U.S. State Division working for the U.S. Company for Worldwide Growth.
After returning to Hawaii, he earned a level from Chaminade College and received a job on the Officers Membership at Schofield Barracks. In 2005 he retired after 57 years of presidency serv ice. For the remainder of his life, he devoted his time to his household and to volunteer work.
Amongst those that attended the funeral have been Package and Linda Lirot, a pair from Michigan who often summer season in Hawaii. That they had met Cale one of many days he was volunteering at Pearl Harbor and have been taken by his attraction and his openness.
“We thought he was an American hero. He had a really touching story and was very prepared to share, ” mentioned Linda Lirot. “We noticed on the information the opposite evening that he had handed and determined we might higher hire a automotive and are available up right here. So right here we’re.”
However whereas his navy profession introduced him to Hawaii and outlined a lot of his life, it was its folks and tradition that made him keep. He and his spouse had two youngsters, and their ohana would proceed to develop. He’s survived by 4 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.
Neighbors and mates from throughout Oahu additionally turned out to say goodbye. He was well-known in his neighborhood and group and beloved going to Zippy’s.
Throughout his funeral service, his great-granddaughter Mikayla Lancaster-Hoover carried out hula in his honor.
“My grandpa at all times appreciated Hawaiian tradition. I am Hawaiian, and he at all times inspired me to do hula after I was little and so it is solely proper that I do it for him, ” mentioned Lancaster-Hoover. “He was only a treasure. … He was simply form of a once-in-a-lifetime type of man. He at all times did all the things for his household.”
Throughout remarks on the funeral, Jim McCoy, communications director of Pacific Historic Parks, instructed the Sterling household, “Thanks for sharing him with us. He meant a lot to us.”
At present of the 87, 000 navy personnel who have been stationed at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, solely about two dozen stay alive.
“I just lately walked by the bookstore. Exterior there was nothing the place he would normally stand, ” mentioned McCoy. “It was fairly quiet and type of unhappy, however inside my head I heard, ‘Prepared, goal, fireplace !'”
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