This Military Service Page was created/owned by
John Huttman, Jr.-Family
to remember
Calcaterra, Herbert Andrew, MoMM1c.
If you knew or served with this Sailor and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
Casualty Info
Home Town Escalon, CA
Last Address Escalon, CA
Casualty Date Sep 04, 1942
Cause KIA-Died of Wounds
Reason Gun, Small Arms Fire
Location Pacific Ocean
Conflict World War II
Location of Interment Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial - Honolulu, Hawaii
Wall/Plot Coordinates Court 5 (cenotaph)
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
Herbert Calcaterra was my second cousin- his mother, Gladys Stites, was my great aunt and I did know her very well. I never had the pleasure of meeting my cousin Herbert, but I've heard many stories about him serving on a submarine during World War II. The submarine was attempting to submerge and was being attacked by the Japanese. My cousin Herbert; at 6'5", probably shouldn't have been on a submarine in the first place. He remained on deck and manned the .50 caliber machine gun, shooting down several Zeros and giving the submarine a chance to submerge.
He was killed in action and my Aunt Gladys received his Congressional Medal of Honor posthumously. I saw several pictures at my aunts house of my cousin Herbert in uniform- he was very proud to serve and gave his life protecting his shipmates. Aunt Gladys also used to tell me of the battleship that was christened in his honor- the USS Calcaterra (DE-390). I saw pictures of her; I believe in New York, as she was christening the ship.
I have to admit, I felt enormous pride as I held my cousin's medal of honor in my hand. My aunt always kept it in a very prominent place in her home and regarded it as the greatest achievement of anyone in our family's history. I'm proud to be Herbert Calcaterra's cousin.
- John Huttman, Jr.- February, 2015
Comments/Citation:
Admin Note- there is no public record of Herbert A. Calcaterra having received the Medal of Honor. All that is shown for him is a Purple Heart, and a posthumously awarded Silver Star.
Service Number, 376 00 59. Birth Date, April 7, 1920. From, Escalon, California. Decorations, Silver Star, Purple Heart. Submarine, USS Pompano (SS-181). Loss Date, September 4, 1942. Location, Enroute to Midway. Circumstances, Killed while manning 3 inch deck gun. Remarks, USS Calcaterra(DE-390) was named in ...
- Volunteer Profile Assistant DS3 Curt S.- February, 2018
