Decorated war hero Ace Brobeck Callan of Suisun City, Calif., died Feb. 22. He was 81.
Callan was born Jan. 15, 1923 in Medford, Ore. and at age 9 joined his fraternal family in Napa, Calif.
He graduated from Napa High School lettering in football and track and was offered a track scholarship to Stanford.
Instead, his Naval Reserve unit was called to active duty and he was stationed on Midway Island in the South Pacific on Dec. 7, 1941.
After the Japanese attack of that day, his was the first message out from Midway to the rest of the nation.
Callan was one of the Navy’s first radar men, and was instrumental in shooting down a Japanese seaplane attacking Midway, for which he received a citation from Admiral Chester Nimitz.
He continued his service on various destroyers throughout World War II and during the Korean conflict.
Between conflicts, in March 1947, Callan married Bette Jeanne Strickland of Napa.
After his naval service he went into business in Napa and supported his family until his retirement in 1994. He moved to Suisun City a few years later.
He is survived by his wife Bette; son Ron Callan of Bainbridge Island, and his daughter and son-in-law, Marsha and Bob Pouget of Suisun City.
He is also survived by his five grandchildren: Austin Pouget of Fairfield, Calif., Megan Isenogle of Folsom, Calif., and Cassandra, Daniel and Lily Callan of Bainbridge Island; and one great-grandchild, Matthew Isenogle of Folsom.
At his request, no services will be held; memorials can be made to the Hospice Society of California.