Donald was. Survivors of the Arizona can choose tohave their ashes interred in the sunken battleship in Pearl Harbor, but Stratton decided long ago he did not want that. 'Don' Stratton, age 86, of Wexford, passed away on Monday, November 30, 2020 at North Hills Health and Rehabilitation in Wexford. Throughout his life, Donald asked himself that very question. One of Stratton's friends also spoke at his funeral on Saturday. In the book, Donald references a poem that was placed in the wallet of Eleanor Roosevelt where it reads, Somehow out there, A man died for me today. Messages run for up to one year and you "I was aboard the USS Arizona on the morning of December 7, 1941. 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. After a lifetime at sea, Stratton will return to his home on the prairie. Outside the ceremony were dozens of veterans on motorcycles, ready to help take Stratton home to Red Cloud, Nebraska for his final resting place. After WWII ended, he was 100% medically discharged and went on to work with deep sea divers and oil rigs offshore. Receive a notification when services are updated. He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Jessie, daughters Gypsy Dawn and Roxane Jo and son Robert, brother Daryl and sister Norma and great grandson DJ. Donald Stratton died late Saturday at his home in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He was taken to a hospital in San Francisco, where he convalesced for the better part of 1942. The war hero was able to live a long life. In the fall of 1940, he joined the Navy and was stationed aboard USS Arizona, assigned to man an anti-aircraft gun. Flint Journal Homepage. 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. I looked over and seen the water tower go over. Then the veterans will continue to drive all the way to Red Cloud, Nebraska, where Stratton is from. Dave began his teaching career in the Chicopee Public Schools before transferring to the Springfield Public School System. "Plus all the others in all the other wars.". One of Donalds final wishes was that people remember Pearl Harbor and the men aboard the USS Arizona, his wife Velma wrote on Facebook. Search by Name. The attack on Dec. 7, 1941, attack killed 1,177 sailors and Marines on the mighty battleship, sparing 335. "Thank you for being such a good friend to me. The order had been given for the Vestal to cut loose from the Arizona and head for open water, Stratton said in his book. After graduating high school, he did what many young men did during the 1930s and '40s and enlisted in the military. Still others in small boats, navigating through the fiery sea, pulling oil-soaked sailors from the water. The explosion lifted the ship out of the water. The battleship shuddered as another explosion, the most powerfulyet, cracked its hull. He was a communicant of St. Joseph's Church. He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Mildred; daughter Becky (Brad) Bierdeman; son Allen (Jodie) Stratton; Grandchildren Brennan Stratton, Zac White and Marissa White; and great grandchildren Lucy, Zander, and Tatum. The fire burned at its highest level at around 8000 degrees, which is about 3 times hotter than lava coming out of the Kilauea volcano. At 19 years old he enlisted in the US Navy and was then assigned to the USS Arizona. My hero is gone but will always be in my heart. He would have died on that platform.. Funeral Home website by. What we were doing is a thing for respect of an American hero, so it was our honor to be there for it, he said. Send a note, share a story or upload a photo. Bruner, who also made the climb across the rope with Stratton, died Sept. 10 at age 98. Services Sunday . Donald and Velma were married for 70 years. This image is an artists recreation of the burns Donald suffered during Pearl Harbor. He was born November 17, 1932 in Neosho, Missouri to Elbert Stratton and Olga Sanders-Stratton. What a great story that needs to be heard for many more years! 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. Stratton, 19, and several other men were in a metal box 70 feet off the water the port side anti-aircraft "director " where they were in danger of being cooked to death. Donald Stratton. My heart goes out for the families, as well as all those who sacrificed for their great country so I could be writing this right now! quest diagnostics 32791n. "He gave us his words, through 'All the Gallant Men,' that will never be forgottenand you will never be forgotten," said Stratton's son, Randy. Elizabeth II undertook a number of state and official visits over her 70-year reign (1952 to 2022), as well as trips throughout the Commonwealth, making her the most widely travelled head of state in history.She did not require a British passport for travelling overseas, as all British passports were issued in her name. He also rebuilt Jeeps, Volkswagens, tractors, motorcycles and anything that had an engine. The Kansas Highway Patrol identified the motorcyclist as 65-year-old Lennie Riedel of Colby, Kan., who lost control of his Harley-Davidson and laid the bike over on Interstate 70. Stratton watched as the sailor waved off another man on the deck and struggled witha line. your email below for our complimentary daily grief messages. He joined the USS Stack, a destroyer headed for the Pacific. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Paul Franklin, Jr., Robert Franklin, Charles Franklin, and Floyd Franklin. It is unknown if Batchelor was injured. briggs and stratton vtwin throttle linkage diagram; patristocrat cipher tips; xpenology dsm 7 vmware workstation. His parents, his wife of 60 years, Mary Stratton and brother, Ed Stratton,. Per Docs wishes, a private family service was held.Donald Stratton, a son of Donald and Doris (Sletten) Stratton, was born in Bottineau on April 4, 1950. Don Stratton, who escaped a burning USS Arizona by making a harrowing hand-over-hand climb across a rope to an adjacent ship on Dec. 7, 1941, died Saturday, leaving just two living survivors of the famed battleship. You will be my forever hero.". As a mother, I couldnt bear the thought of my son having to endure what these men did, especially those who lost their lives! All rights reserved. Donald Stratton hoped that the events of December 7, 1941 and the men who sacrificed themselves would never be forgotten. The Colorado Springs man was 97. Randy and his mother were with Stratton when he died Saturday. Donald Richard Stratton of Emory, Rains County, Texas was born on March 23, 1936. A lot of young men were joining the military as rumors buzzed about when the United States might be dragged into the war. Home / Articles / Donald Stratton, USS Arizona Survivor, Has Died. Born July 14, 1922, Donald Stratton grew up in Red Cloud, NE. Market data provided by Factset. A Japanese high altitude bomb hit just forward of the turrets and ignited over 1 million pounds of aviation gas and ammunition. As he attempted to direct the 5-inch guns, the bombers swooped in on the ship and her crew. After spending over a year in the hospital recovering, Donald re-enlisted in the US Navy as WWII was still raging. His eyes met Strattons. "We proceeded to go hand over hand across the line about 70 feet" off the burning warship, Stratton said, adding that the toughest part was reaching the middle of the sagging line stretched across two ships, and climbing up to the other ship. It was quite a sight for an old flatlander like me to see a 35,000-ton battleship out of the water, he said. 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Unless you are experienced as an estate executor, you probably should hire an attorney. 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. He was taken to a hospital. Smoke and flames choked the air, but Stratton saw someone moving on a smaller ship that had been tethered to the Arizona. A motorcyclist escorting the body of Pearl Harbor survivor Donald Stratton to his hometown in Nebraska died in a crash Saturday in Kansas, authorities said. Submit an Obituary. They pulled a heavier line over and one by one began to climb across the gap separating the two ships. To have people who pass trying to show respect is terrible.. A motorcyclist escorting the body of Pearl Harbor survivor Donald Stratton to his hometown in Nebraska died in a crash Saturday in Kansas, authorities said. He was skilled in mechanics and during his lifetime built two ultralight airplanes in which he modified the engines in both. The Arizona was on fire and the Japanese were still attacking. Donald A. Stratton, 60, of 560 E. Garwood St., died yesterday at 6:30 p.m. in Alliance City hospital following an illness of one week. The family suggests memorial donations may be made in Dons name to the Mt. "We got hit with the big bomb and that exploded like a million pounds of ammunition. The Navy offered him a job as a chief petty officer running recruits through boot camp in Idaho. Donald Stratton was one of the last three remaining survivors of the USS Arizona. Doc began his meat processing career in Westhope and through they years he worked as a meat cutter in numerous places through out North Dakota and Minnesota.He is survived by his companion, Jo Anne Freeberg of Roseville; daughter, Michelle Lafond (Jonas) of Auburn, GA; son, Marc Stratton (Susan) of Fergus Falls, MN; grandchildren, Cody Lafond and Kyle and Rylee Stratton; brothers, Bill Stratton (LeRae) of Westhope, Duane Stratton (Nancy) of Lakeville, MN and Keith Stratton (Donna) of Westhope; sister, Tudi Henderson (Ken) of Velva; one uncle; several aunts, nieces, nephews and cousins; and step-mother, Deloras Stratton.He was preceded in death by his parents, Donald and Doris Stratton and niece Morgan Stratton.Arrangements were with Nero Funeral Home in Westhope. He is preceded in death by his parents, Jesse and Nellie Stratton; and 13 siblings. He will be sadly missed by his close friend and partner Peggy Klepic. He was united in holy matrimony to Velma DEtte Lockhart on April 23, 1950. Don worked for Rohrer Engineering and retired from Forester Systems in 2000. CNN Donald Stratton, a survivor of the USS Arizona, died February 15, according to a statement from the Pearl Harbor National Memorial. Following the service, the Colorado Springs Police Department escorted the family and the casket. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. tomorrow in Sharer-Stirling Funeral Home with . Funeral Home website by. Donald was buried next to his two daughters and now wife. Morris MI went home October 6, 2014 in Kingwood, TX. To offer your sympathy during this difficult time, you can now have memorial trees planted in a National Forest in memory of your loved one. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@newscred.com. In 1966, Stratton returned to Pearl Harbor with his family. He is survived by his brother Willie and his son Randy Stratton (Kathy) and wife Velma. | Theme: Fairy by Candid Themes. But I'm grateful more or less for the 1,117 men that we lost that day on the Arizona," Stratton said in an interview with KKTV in 2018. "I'll come out every year I can until I'm gone.". After the war, he returned home for a while, but he felt the call of the sea again and went to work on an oil ship off California. Donald G. Stratton, was born July 14, 1922 in Inavale, Nebraska to Robert and Jessie Stratton and upon graduation from high school in Red Cloud, he enlisted in the Navy and was a Seaman First Class aboard the USS Arizona. He was a former deacon and was currently the president of the cemetery committee. A sailor on the ship, a supply vessel called the USS Vestal, was about to cut the line when he saw the six men on the tower. Messages run for up to one year and you Heroic Pearl Harbor sailor honored with Bronze Star, wrote in his 2016 book, "All the Gallant Men. All Rights Reserved. Your email will not be used for any other purpose. Hundreds honor Donald Stratton on ground, in air, and on motorcycle for funeral, Persons of interest identified after 2 juveniles shot and killed in Falcon, New details released following shootout with suspect and El Paso County deputies near Colorado Springs, Parent speaks out against Woodland Park 6th grade changes, WATCH - Penrose Library reopened, deemed safe following further testing for meth residue. Years later, Stratton and his son, Randy, learned that the sailor, a boatswains mate named Joe George, haddefied orders to cut the line to the Arizona and had never been recognized for what he did. "We are profoundly sad to say that last night, Feb. 15, USS Arizona Survivor Donald Stratton passed away peacefully in his sleep surrounded by his wife of nearly 70 years, Velma, and his son Randy, " Pearl Harbor National Memorial Daniel Martinez, chief historian for the memorial, said, "God bless him and his beloved family. The sailor on the Vestal motioned to the six Arizona crewmen. Family flowers only, donations, if desired may be given for Stroke Association, by retiring . Mr. Stratton loved God, loved his country and loved his family. All rights reserved. The Navy said George, who died in 1996, was commended in 1942 but he never received any medal for his actions. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, November 30, 2021 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at Mt. Joe was on deck fighting fires spread from the Arizona. Your entry has exceeded the maximum character limit. Graveside services with full military honors were 11:00 am, Monday, March 2, 2020 at the Red Cloud Cemetery, Red Cloud, Nebraska. Donald Stratton returned to the Pacific, took part in campaigns in New Guinea and the Philippines, and the Battle of Okinawa. Donald J. Stratton, Sr. March 14, 1928 March 4, 2019. . He is survived by a niece, Catherine Vetterly and husband Tom of New Jersey, two great nephews; Brad (Lyndsey) and Brett (Kristin) Vetterly, and two great great nephews; Max and Milo Vetterly, and one great great niece, Mia Vetterly. Donald Stratton was one of the last three remaining survivors of the USS Arizona. Enter 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. He quietly departed this life Saturday, February 15, 2020 in his Colorado Springs, CO home alongside his wife and son. Stratton, Donald, age 89 of Arden Hills, passed away peacefully at home on March 8, 2020. The. 2023 Seederly-Mong & Beck Funeral Home. RED CLOUD, Neb. George and the ship's captain "were engaged in some kind of a debate, a heated one " that conveyed to Stratton that "we didn't have a chance.". PearlHarbor.Org is a privately owned website and is not owned or operated by, nor affiliated with, a Government Agency. 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