Adone “ Cal ” Calderone is veteran of the U . S . Navy and a survivor or the Pearl Harbor attack on December 7 , 1941 . Despite being struck in the face by shrapnel as Japanese bombers rained terror on his ship , USS West Virginia , Calderone joined a group of brave men who made a daring descent into the lower decks of the battered carrier to open a flood hatch , effectively saving the ship . During the war , Calderone was a member of a Navy band that played aboard ships and onshore for servicemen and dignitaries . In his later years , Calderone enjoyed successful career in insurance and investments and went on to become executive director of the W . D . Packard Concert Band .
I decided to join the Navy on October 15 , 1940 . This was the tail end of the Great Depression and the Navy promised that if I enlisted and joined the musician school , after six years of service I could attend any college . That seemed like a pretty good deal at the time and a way I could use my musical talent to further my education . I learned the bass and tuba , and eventually became a conductor .
My basic training was quite short , basically enough time to get into our uniforms before we headed to the Armed Forces School of Music in Virginia . By the time I graduated , it was June of 1941 and over the next several months , as a member of the USS West Virginia , I performed with one of seven Navy bands that toured and gave performances aboard ships and on various bases .
A YOUNG SAILOR , ADONE “ CAL ” CALDERONE .
It just so happened the night before the Pearl Harbor attacks , December 6 , 1941 , I was participating in a “ Battle of the Bands ” competition with members of the USS Arizona , since my own ship was on guard duty and couldn ’ t participate . Following the competition and after party , I was invited to spend the night aboard the USS Arizona and head back to the USS West Virginia the following morning . I declined knowing my commanding officer would want me back early for drills . Plus , I had planned to attend Mass in the morning .
Of course had I stayed on the USS Arizona , I wouldn ’ t be sharing this story now . The morning after I returned to my ship , Arizona was one of several battleships hit by Japanese bombers . The entire band and almost the entire crew aboard Arizona were killed . I was finishing breakfast when I heard the explosions . Before long , the “ wham !” of those explosions sounded closer . I realized they were attacking us on the second hit . The first hit , I thought someone rammed into us , but then there was a second . When a third torpedo hit our ship , I was struck in the face by shrapnel and suffered a concussion . After I was taken ashore to a hospital , they said , “ Do you want to stay here ?” I said , “ No , I want to get back to my ship . That ’ s my home .”
Outside the hospital , the street was lined with men in various conditions . The medical personnel treated whoever they could and marked men with a red pencil who couldn ’ t be saved . When the doctor recommended I receive the Purple Heart , I knew it was those guys that deserved it . They ’ re the ones who truly suffered . I think that ’ s why it never bothered me that the Purple Heart medal never arrived .
After I received treatment , I got a shower and a new pair of shorts before I was on my way back to
12 WORLD WAR II CHRONICLES