The. Donald was born July 14, 1922 in Invale Nebraska and grew up in Red Cloud, Nebraska. All Rights Reserved. PEARL HARBOR HERO RECOGNIZED 76 YEARS AFTER SAVING 6 FROM SINKING USS ARIZONA, Recollections from George himself ultimately emerged; he spoketo the University of North Texas in 1978 for an oral history documenting the attack. Men being strafed as they brought boxes of ammo up ladders to the antiaircraft guns. Is comparing Colorado Springs' and Denver's homeless populations fair or unfair? He participated in six more invasions aboard the USS Stack. Stratton figured he could do with the $21 a month, so he joined the Navy. Access all of our premium content, get unlimited digital access and more! They moved back to California briefly and then settled in Colorado Springs. Along with 5 others in the director, there was no hope for rescue. My theory was you either had a nice place aboard a ship andwere high and dry or you didnt have anything, he told The Arizona Republic in 2014. Numerous flags and people were lined along the route to honor the veteran as the motorcade passed through. All Rights Reserved 2022. He would have died on that platform.. Search by Name. The bow sagged. STRATTON, DONALD EUGENE STRATTON, Donald Eugene - Mt. An avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed hunting and fishing. Minutes later, the heaving line secured to the tower, the six men climbed down the rope to the Vestal. After leaving the Navy, Donald met Velma in Red Cloud and the two married. Elizabeth II was the sovereign of more than one independent state and . To send a flower arrangement or to plant trees in memory of "One thing is for certain : Had Joe George not stood up for us, had he not been a rebel and refused to cut the line connecting the Vestal to the Arizona, we would have been cooked to death, " Stratton wrote. At first, the Navy wouldn't allow Donald to re-enlist due to his medical discharge, however he proved them wrong by going through boot camp a second time. Bruner, who also made the climb across the rope with Stratton, died Sept. 10 at age 98. Six men, Stratton included, were saved by climbing hand-over-hand on a rope thrown at the last second by a sailor on the adjacent repair ship USS Vestal in one of the most dramatic rescues of the day. (Nikki Stratton), Stratton said he and others trapped aboard the sinking Arizona had struggled mightily to escape the carnage, which killed 1,177of his shipmates, after Japanese planes struck the Arizona several times on Dec. 7, 1941. Published by Syracuse Post Standard from Sep. 19 to Sep. 21, 2014. He was reared in Westhope and graduated Westhope High School in 1968. Still, George "kept saying, 'Come on sailor! On December 7, 1941, the United States suffered devastating losses On the morning of December 7, 1941, six sailors were To stay up to date on the latest information about Pearl Harbor, please follow us! The best poems for funerals, memorial services., and cards. The funeral liturgy for Don will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, March 8, 2018 at St. Bernard Catholic Church, 1617 W. Pine Street in Appleton, with Fr. After graduating high school, he did what many young men did during the 1930s and 40s and enlisted in the military. He is preceded in death by his parents, Jesse and Nellie Stratton; and 13 siblings. This article is written by William Cole from The Honolulu Star-Advertiser and was legally licensed via the Tribune Content Agency through the NewsCred publisher network. Finally, he was given a medical discharge and returned to Nebraska. It burned Donald over 65% of his body. Family and friends are invited to visitwww.seederly-mongandbeck.comto sign the guestbook or send private condolences. Donald Stratton is survived by his wife of 69 years, four children, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren who will continue to share his stories of the attack on Pearl Harbor and the heroes who emerged that day. Just over a year later, he found himself in the middle of the devastating Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Whether it was on foot, in a police car, on a motorcycle, or in the sky, the droves of people that showed up say they'll never forget Stratton; just like he made it his life's goal to honor the men that didn't survive Dec. 7, 1941. If youre in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist. After years of striving to recognize Joe for his heroism that day, Donald, Lauren Bruner and their families, stood aboard the USS Arizona Memorial December 7, 2018 to posthumously honor Joe George with a Bronze Star with a V. The courage and bravery of Joe and the grit and grace of Donald has weaved together a precious community of families that hope to keep the memory of Pearl Harbor alive. Flint Journal Homepage. Morris MI went home October 6, 2014 in Kingwood, TX. Before George extended a lifeline to the men on the Arizona, he had been using an axe to cut the mooring lines. He was skilled in mechanics and during his lifetime built two ultralight airplanes in which he modified the engines in both. He wanted to avenge all of his brothers lost on December 7th, 1,177 of them. As long as there be war, I must answer Am I worth dying for?. The flag over the USS Arizona Memorial was flown at half-staff in honor of Strattons life and service, the National Memorial said. Send simple, comforting meals with Home Chef. Donald Stratton (July 14, 1922 - February 15, 2020) was an American veteran and memoirist of World War II who served in the United States Navy 's Pacific Fleet. Donald and 5 others climbed hand over hand across the water all already burned, 70 feet including the slope up to the Vestal deck. Donald Stratton was one of the last three remaining survivors of the USS Arizona. Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love. J James December 21, 2018 "We can't forget what happened there that day. He was a communicant of St. Joseph's Church. The Stratton Family searched for Joe George for years, finally finding him around the 60th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor. In 2016, he published a memoir, All the Gallant Men: An American Sailor's Firsthand Account of Pearl Harbor. After that, Randy said, he was done. Stratton is survived by his brother Willie, his son Randy Stratton, his wife, Velma, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The driver of a Honda Accord, 81-year-old Carl Silvrants of Fredericksburg, Va., was killed when he tried to get around the motorcycle crash and hit a parked firetruck on Interstate 70. He will be buried there. We would like to offer our sincere support to anyone coping with grief. He managed to throw a monkeys fist with a heaving line attached over to the men. A friendship between the two began in 2016. Donald Thoms Stratton, of Souderton, formerly of Warminster, passed away surrounded by loving family on August 20, 2019 at age 85. A magnifying glass. His wife, Velma, and his son, Randy, were with him. I love you and I hope you are enjoying making your shipmates laugh once again," Knestrick said. He and other survivors gathered together and signaled for help, which caught the attention of Joe George aboard the nearby USS Vestal. Surviving are his wife of 59 years, the former Catherine Klix; daughters, Susan (Chris Gilmore) Stratton of Portland, OR, Laura (Walter) Ranger of Liverpool and Paula (Jim) Franklin of Portland, OR; son, Donald (Martha) Stratton Jr. of Choctaw, OK; nine grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; brothers, William of Atlanta, GA and Lynn Stratton of Staten Island; and several nieces and nephews. Martin Pable, OFM Cap. Receive a notification when services are updated. Though George had been ordered to sever the line with Arizona, he kept the two ships tied together and threw a line to the men aboard the doomed battleship. Information and advice to help you cope with the death of someone important to you. He was 97, a tweet from USS Arizona said. As he had ignored a direct order, it wasnt until Stratton and the others spoke up that he was awarded with a Bronze Star in 2017. 2023 Seederly-Mong & Beck Funeral Home. The sailor on the Vestal motioned to the six Arizona crewmen. Stratton will be eulogized at services in Colorado Springs and buried in a family plot in his hometown,Red Cloud, Nebraska. Throughout his life, Donald asked himself that very question. The explosion lifted the ship out of the water. Joe George saved 6 lives that day, and was never awarded for his heroism until 76 years later. Any and all bookings made prior to May 1, 2021 are the responsibility of the previous owner. Donald Stratton died late Saturday at his home in Colorado Springs. In 1966, Stratton returned to Pearl Harbor with his family. Stratton's granddaughter, Nikki, told Fox News hedied "peacefully" with family by his side, including his wife of nearly 70 years, Velma. Arrangements are being made by Wait Ross Allanson Funeral & Cremation Services Chapel,. Were all just extremely sad, said Randy Wittmer, a member of the Colorado Patriot Guard who attended Strattons funeral but did not ride in the procession following the service. Hes atrue American hero.. All rights reserved. 'Don' Stratton, age 86, of Wexford, passed away on Monday, November 30, 2020 at North Hills Health and Rehabilitation in Wexford. Once out to sea Donald really found his sea legs, feeling like his secondary home was always on the water. It may take up to 1 hour for your comment to appear on the website. You have funeral questions, we have answers. Donald J. Stratton, Sr. March 14, 1928 March 4, 2019. . Donald Stratton returned to the Pacific, took part in campaigns in New Guinea and the Philippines, and the Battle of Okinawa. This site is provided as a service of SCI Shared Resources, LLC. A Japanese high altitude bomb hit just forward of the turrets and ignited over 1 million pounds of aviation gas and ammunition. He wanted to be at home, Randy said. Stratton finished breakfast and filled his white hat with oranges on his way to visit a buddy in sick bay. The Colorado Springs man was 97. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. My hero is gone but will always be in my heart. Don was with the Army from 1959 to 1962, during which he was a radio relay and carrier operator. On that day, 1,177 men perished in the explosion leaving just 300 alive. in memory of Donald G Stratton, please visit our floral store. Use of this website constitutes acceptance of our Terms & Conditions. DONALD STRATTON OBITUARY Donald David Stratton, loving husband, father and grandfather, passed away peacefully on February 10, 2015 while vacationing in Montego Bay Jamaica. After boot camp, he was sent to the Navy shipyards in Bremerton, Washington, where he got his first look at the Arizona, in dry dock undergoing maintenance and, most people assumed, being fitted for war. Enter Share their story and never forget those who gave all for our great country.. This image is an artists recreation of the burns Donald suffered during Pearl Harbor. In his dining room in Colorado Springs, he kept a replica of a diving helmet, the kind divers on his crew used. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner), The Honolulu Star-Advertiser | By William Cole. A 1, 760-pound Japanese high-altitude armor-piercing bomb had penetrated the Arizona's decks 40 feet from the bow, igniting a million pounds of gunpowder for the ship's massive 14-inch guns. I looked over and seen the water tower go over. Stratton was burned over much of his body. The Stratton men called and wrote letters, telling Georges story to anyone who would listen. officiating. They were all yelling and pointing toward Ford Island, he said. Flint Journal. 241 West 4th Avenue Legal Statement. It was thunderous.. After spending over a year in the hospital recovering, Donald re-enlisted in the US Navy as WWII was still raging. to the family or plant a tree In 2017, Stratton, Bruner and Potts met at the Pentagon with the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, secretary of defense and chief of naval operations to honor George. He will be sadly missed by his close friend and partner Peggy Klepic. I will always miss you. Donald Stratton was one of the last three remaining survivors of the USS Arizona. 2023 SCI SHARED RESOURCES, LLC. As long as there be war, I must answer Am I worth dying for?. Don loved being outdoors and in his beloved hobby shop where he spent countless hours with his son Allen where they would work meticulously on various projects. His legacy will forever be cherished in the lives of his grandchildren: Dana Stratton, Kimberly Brewer, Robert Stratton Jr., (Becky), Jessika Caldwell (Tony) and Nicole Stratton. Funeral services were Saturday, 10:00 am, February 29, 2020 at the Rocky Mountain Calvary Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado. After a lifetime at sea, Stratton will return to his home on the prairie. At one point in his life, he had no fingerprints as they had all been burned through and off. Finally, in February 1944, he was allowed to reenlist. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Stratton will be eulogized at services in Colorado Springs,. He was one of the last living survivors of the USS Arizona during the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. 2023 Williams Funeral Homes. Born in Bath, NY, he lived in Camillus for more than 15 years. On February 15, 2020, one of those men, Donald Stratton, passed away after spending years working to gain recognition forthe hero who saved him. On that day, 1,177 men perished in the explosion leaving just 300 alive. A funeral service will be held at the North Devon Crematorium on Tuesday 28th February at 10.20am. The crew learned to work the ships guns, the big ones and the smaller ones, firing at floating targets miles away. The funeral procession stretching from Colorado Springs to Red Cloud, Neb., was involved in three separate crashes along the nearly seven-hour, 448-mile route. Smaller ones, firing at floating targets miles away in 2016, he published memoir. Saturday at his home in Colorado Springs ' and Denver 's homeless populations fair unfair! He enjoyed hunting and fishing and his son, Randy said, he had no fingerprints as brought... His parents, Jesse and Nellie Stratton ; and 13 siblings ( Photo/Eugene. 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