The order had been given for the Vestal to cut loose from the Arizona and head for open water, Stratton said in his book. While he enjoyed riding in his side by side the many miles of trails with his wife, he met many fellow campers there who became special friends. He was taken to a hospital. Stratton DONALD G. STRATTON July 14, 1922 February 15, 2020 Mr. Donald G. Stratton, was born July 14, 1922 in Inavale, NE 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. 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. The Arizona was on fire and the Japanese were still attacking. CNN Donald Stratton, a survivor of the USS Arizona, died February 15, according to a statement from the Pearl Harbor National Memorial. The family suggests memorial donations may be made in Dons name to the Mt. PHOENIX Through the soles of his shoes, Donald Stratton could feel the heat from the platform where he stood on the wounded USS Arizona. He will be sadly missed by his close friend and partner Peggy Klepic. Back in 2016, Landon heard the veteran's story and made it a goal to meet him. The fireball that engulfed the Arizona lifted the ship over 50 feet out of the water before slamming back down to the sand below. He was gifted and talented in being able to design and invent something from scratch. He met up with the Arizona while it was in dry dock in Bremerton Washington. "Thank you for being such a good friend to me. RED CLOUD, Neb. He wanted to be at home, Randy said. He was one of the last living survivors of the USS Arizona during the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. Donald Stratton, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store. Services Sunday . By early 1941, the Arizona had steamed down the coast and put in at Pearl Harbor. Donald Stratton. Search by Name. He was one of three known living crew members of the USS Arizona, which was sunk during the surprise attack by the Japanese on Dec. 7, 1941. He would have died on that platform.. After spending over a year in the hospital recovering, Donald re-enlisted in the US Navy as WWII was still raging. 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. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@newscred.com. The crash between a Harley-Davidson and a Victorious happened north of Castle Rock around 1:30 p.m., Colorado State Trooper Josh Lewis said. "As they shot through the two openings of the enclosure, we shielded ourselves by taking shelter under some of the equipment, our hands covering our mouths and eyes. your email below for our complimentary daily grief messages. Don Stratton, a founding member of the Krewe of Armeinius, passed away on August 30, 2021 at his home in New Orleans, one day before his 77th birthday. Donald Stratton - Arizona Final Salute Donald Stratton Donald was born July 14, 1922 in Invale Nebraska and grew up in Red Cloud, Nebraska. 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. Before George extended a lifeline to the men on the Arizona, he had been using an axe to cut the mooring lines. To send flowers After spending over a year in the hospital recovering, Donald re-enlisted in the US Navy as WWII was still raging. Copyright 2009 - 23 Nero Funeral Home. They were all yelling and pointing toward Ford Island, he said. You can make it,'" Stratton recalled. When the call to battle stations was made, he climbed three ladders to reach his station. The license plate readUSS ARIZ, and amural on a white bed cover depicted the USS Arizona and the memorial that floats above it in Pearl Harbor. You can unsubscribe at any time. USS Arizona survivor and World War II veteran Donald Stratton's funeral started at 10 a.m.., and hundreds showed up to pay their respects, even in mid-air. In the early hours of December 7, 1941, Stratton stepped out onto Arizonas deck and spotted the Japanese dive bombers launching their assault. Donald B. Stratton, Sr., 80, of Camillus, passed away peacefully at home. Once out to sea Donald really found his sea legs, feeling like his secondary home was always on the water. Flint Journal Homepage. "OnceI made a dive in a two-man submarine, down in over 1,200 feet of water off Santa Barbara coast," he said. We should never forget what these guys did for us, Randy said Sunday from Colorado Springs. It would be the last time Donald set foot on the Memorial. 3 crashes, 2 deaths involving Donald Stratton funeral procession, By Debbie Kelley As he attempted to direct the 5-inch guns, the bombers swooped in on the ship and her crew. 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. We can't let it happen again.. Family and friends are invited to gather at the church on Friday morning from 9:00 AM until the . 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. 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. Once he boarded, he was assigned to the port-side anti-aircraft director one of the Arizonas 5 inch guns used for targeting high altitude aircraft. 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. Many honored him by sharing stories, talking about his accomplishments, or reminding everyone of his favorite saying. But to many, he was also a symbol of leadership and character. On December 7, 1941, Mr. Stratton survived the attack on Pearl Harbor with courage, the . Stratton was second to go. I said no, I wanted to go to sea, Stratton said. The best poems for funerals, memorial services., and cards. He also rebuilt Jeeps, Volkswagens, tractors, motorcycles and anything that had an engine. Donalds life was chronicled in the book All the Gallant Men which can be found online and your local book stores. "We have to bury Lauren Bruner so I had to come back, " Conter, sitting in a wheelchair, said shortly after he arrived. Klaers is the CEO and president of The National WWII Aviation Museum. PearlHarbor.Org is a privately owned website and is not owned or operated by, nor affiliated with, a Government Agency. 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. It indicates, "Click to perform a search". Stratton, 97, a Colorado Springs resident, died Feb. 15. Helping USS Arizona Survivors and their Families. New downtown Colorado Springs transit center plans updated, councilman calls it a 'boondoggle', Colorado Springs high school student arrested after allegedly bringing loaded gun to school. Our support in your time of need does not end after the funeral services. Throughout his life, Donald asked himself that very question. Sign up for service and obituary updates. Funeral services were Saturday, 10:00 am, February 29, 2020 at the Rocky Mountain Calvary Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado. With over 1,900 locations, Dignity Memorial providers proudly serve over 375,000 families a year. UNION COUNTY, N.C. (WBTV) - Elementary school student Landon Knestrick is about to get on plane to fly to Colorado to speak at the funeral of 97-year-old World War II veteran Donald Stratton. He was reared in Westhope and graduated Westhope High School in 1968. 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. His actions saved the injured Stratton and five of his shipmates. Graveside services with full military honors were 11:00 am, Monday, March 2, 2020 at the Red Cloud Cemetery, Red Cloud, Nebraska. "And to show that he is such a great American and to show our appreciation for his service to our great country.". There were "people over on the Arizona that were trying to get off, and there was fire all around," he said. He is now part of our national memory.". His wife, Velma, and his son, Randy, were with him. The explosion lifted the ship out of the water. 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. It was 8:06 a.m. on Dec. 7, 1941, when death raced through the USS Arizona, chasing them all. "It's great to just be here to support him and his family," said Michael Watkins of American Legion Riders. What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative? On that day, 1,177 men perished in the explosion leaving just 300 alive. 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. David Kessler's top 4 tips for dealing with holiday grief. Stratton will be eulogized at services in Colorado Springs,. The crew learned to work the ships guns, the big ones and the smaller ones, firing at floating targets miles away. Family flowers only, donations, if desired may be given for Stroke Association, by retiring . One of Stratton's friends also spoke at his funeral on Saturday. Stratton, Donald, age 89 of Arden Hills, passed away peacefully at home on March 8, 2020. The Strattons knew they had to right that wrong. You have permission to edit this article. A fireball swallowed the control tower where Stratton had climbed minutes before. We found his family living in Arkansas, but Joe passed in the early 90s. Smoke and flames choked the air, but Stratton saw someone moving on a smaller ship that had been tethered to the Arizona. At one point in his life, he had no fingerprints as they had all been burned through and off. Born May 18th, 1934, in Freedom, he was a retired engineer for Pittsburgh Gears, a member of the Shriners in Rochester, and was a veteran of the United States Army. To send flowers Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Martin Pable, OFM Cap. Joe served in the United States Army Special Forces after serving our country as an airborne medic. His memoir, All the Gallant Men, detailed the Pearl Harbor attack, including the injuries he suffered, the heroism of Joe George, his recovery, and his return to war. "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. . The Navy said George, who died in 1996, was commended in 1942 but he never received any medal for his actions. Stratton, then a seaman 1st class, described it in his book, "All the Gallant Men, " as a "great sucking sound, like a whoosh " that rocked the ship with concussive force. All Rights Reserved 2022. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. After WWII ended, he was 100% medically discharged and went on to work with deep sea divers and oil rigs offshore. He was a communicant of St. Joseph's Church. Finally, he was given a medical discharge and returned to Nebraska. These were all brave, great men, many of which were still teenagers when this all happened. Later in 2017, the Navy finally awarded George a posthumous Bronze Star with valor, an award many of his supporters said was long overdue. The Patriot Guard's Wittmer, who lives in Aurora, said the motorcycles apparently crashed into each another. 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It was thunderous.. He cranked a gauge in front of him and yelled the coordinates to the gun crew. Menu. In the Army, you were crawling around in the mud and everything else, and I didnt want to do that.. 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. Don worked for Rohrer Engineering and retired from Forester Systems in 2000. Access all of our premium content, get unlimited digital access and more! He was well known in Colorado Springs, a regular at car shows, where he brought his 1965 Chevrolet pickup. 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. The crew enjoyed their time in Hawaii, playing football on the beach, shore leave, and all the hospitality of the island had to offer. Donald R. "Doc" Stratton, age 60 of Roseville, MN, formerly of Westhope, died Saturday in Roseville. The Navy veteran said it wasn't until 2001, during a reunion of Pearl Harbor survivors,that he discovered the identity of the U.S. service member who saved his life and the lives of at least five other sailors: Chief Petty OfficerJoe George, who died in 1996. We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time. Though the USS Arizona survivor could have chosen to be cremated and interred with his former shipmates aboard the sunken battleship, he opted to be buried in the state where he was born. 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. He is survived by his brother Willie and his son Randy Stratton (Kathy) and wife Velma. DONALD STRATTON OBITUARY. 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. DONALD STRATTON OBITUARY Donald David Stratton, loving husband, father and grandfather, passed away peacefully on February 10, 2015 while vacationing in Montego Bay Jamaica. Stratton watched as the sailor waved off another man on the deck and struggled witha line. The Patriot Guard was founded in 2005 to shield families from protesters, including the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kan., during funerals for fallen service members. DONALD STRATTON OBITUARY ALGONQUIN - Donald J. Stratton, 74, passed on Wednesday, July 16. Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Randy and his mother were with Stratton when he died Saturday. Many Colorado Patriot Guard members only went as far as Limon, where other Patriot Guard riders took over the escort, he said. Donald was a faithful member of Mount Olivet United Church of Christ for over 60 years. The couple was married for 69 years where they travelled the world and grew a beautiful family. "Acts of individual heroism could be witnessed everywhere you looked. Hes atrue American hero.. The war hero was able to live a long life. Donald reenlisted in the Navy, went through boot camp a second time, and was stationed on the USS Stack for the remainder of the war. He met up with the Arizona while it was in dry dock in Bremerton Washington. The funeral procession for Donald was something for the history books, rivaling and surpassing that of any past Presidents. Reveille sounded at 5:30 the morning of Dec. 7. Every memory left on the online obituary will be automatically included in the book. [1] [2] [3] He was in the port gun director of the ship USS Arizona during the attack on Pearl Harbor, when an armor-piercing bomb set off the ship's forward ammunition magazine. No services are scheduled at this time. Obituaries Section. The family has entrusted Seederly-Mong & Beck Funeral Home in North Lima, Ohio with the arrangements for their loved one. 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. I will always miss you. Born in Pittston, PA, Donald was the son of the late Jean Watson and Alfred North Stratton, and brother of the late Robert Watson Stratton. 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. PAYMENT CENTER Click here to make a payment. Go read his book, know the sacrifices they made for you. It may take up to 1 hour for your comment to appear on the website. 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. 'S great to just be here to visit our Sympathy Store & Beck funeral home in north Lima Ohio. Of American Legion Riders fingerprints as they had to right that wrong these were all brave great. 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To go to sea, Stratton said donalds life was chronicled in the book all the Gallant men which be!

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