In Memory of Calvin "Cal" R. Kato........ 2nd Platoon & Company Mail Clerk

Calvin "Cal" R. Kato..... 77 years old

Died: December 25th, 2025 in Placenita, CA

Born: June 11th, 1948 in Chicago, IL

CALVIN "CAL" KATO'S MEMORIAL HANDOUT in a PDF File (Double Click Here)

Memorial Celebration Report - Bob Seitz

A memorial Mass service for our fellow veteran Cal Kato was held 29 July 2027 at St Joseph's Catholic Church in Placentia, CA. Charlie Company 2-506 veterans Randy Parmley, Tom Weides and Bob Seitz attended along with Gary Mountcastle, Cal's friend from Delta 2-506. Also in attendance was Larissa Dougherty, the former librarian at Ft Campbell, who has joined us for many reunions, now in the US Navy stationed at San Diego. In behalf of all Charlie Company, they extended our deepest sympathies and condolences for the loss of Cal to his wife Shelly, sister Miki, brothers Danny and Ronny, and sisters/brother-in-law Risa, Roxanne, Regime and Rory.

Following the service, Randy and Tom folded an American flag and presented this to Cal's wife and family, from a grateful Nation for Cal's honorable and faithful service. On behalf of Charlie Company, Tom Weides presented Cal's family a beautiful engraved tile in remembrance of Cal's Vietnam service with Charlie company.

Cal's family hosted a lovely luncheon for everyone in the church social hall. There was a 'missing man' table for Cal, and the family had another tables with Cal's military memorabilia, including the many Currahee items that Cal had collected over the years from our many reunions. Cal was also a gifted artist in pottery and several of his creative ceramics were also displayed on this table.

We know that the many wonderful and beautiful memories of Cal, Shelly, & Doris at our past reunions will always be a blessing to us.

Currahee Cal..!! Rest in Peace Brother.... Until we meet again on the other side of the Vail...

Randy Parmley Comments,

Our Currahee Brother Cal Kato was very much liked and loved by everyone in Charlie Company. As our "Company Mail Clerk" in the rear area at Camp Evan's he got to know everybody in all three platoons. Prior to that, when Cal first arrived into Charlie Company he was assigned to the 2nd Platoon as a line rifleman. Cal spent about two months in the bush with us and struggled daily with his gear and the jungle. His rucksack was almost as big as he was and it kicked his ass daily. We worked with First Seargent Ryan to get Cal a rear job as the Company Mail Clerk and got him him out of the bush. Cal became one of "go to" guys in the rear area to help us get the equipment that we needed in the field.

After many years after the war, once Charlie Company starting having Reunions. Both being from Califorina, Cal and I became good friends. His job as a salesman with the ROTOARY Co. selling replacement lawn mower parts to Mower Shops in the four counties of Southern Califorina. Whenever Cal came through Temecula, he would give me a call and we would meet for lunch. We had many great lunches over the years filled with laughter and memories. I will miss those lunches as well as the Reunion times with Cal.

Cal was devoted to his wife, Shelly. And they both were devoted to Shelly's mother Doris Zavala. Doris had served in the Womens Army Core in WWII and she loved to come out to the Charlie Company events. The three of them were a team. We lost Doris several years ago at the age of 103.

I will be missing my Brother Cal... Currahee, Brother!!