(AP Photo/Eugene Tanner), The Honolulu Star-Advertiser | By William Cole. He taught. Just as he saw it begin, Stratton saw the war end. Your email will not be used for any other purpose. Wittmer said the procession included other groups besides the Patriot Guard, including American Legion riders. He was taken to a hospital. You will be my forever hero.". They fired all 12 guns to the port side of the ship one time and moved us sideways in the water 30 or 60 feet or so, said Stratton, who was a Seaman 1st Class by then. Throughout his life, Donald asked himself that very question. Stratton. 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. It was 8:06 a.m. on Dec. 7, 1941, when death raced through the USS Arizona, chasing them all. "We can't forget what happened there that day. Help tell the story of your loved ones unique life. Bored of the routine, he went into the commercial diving business, traveling the world. 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. Mr. Strattons life was recently chronicled in the New York Times Best Seller, All the Gallant Men. The crew learned to work the ships guns, the big ones and the smaller ones, firing at floating targets miles away. The latest breaking news, delivered straight to your email! Sympathy Ideas . On that day, 1,177 men perished in the explosion leaving just 300 alive. It was quite a sight for an old flatlander like me to see a 35,000-ton battleship out of the water, he said. 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. Donald Stratton returned to the Pacific, took part in campaigns in New Guinea and the Philippines, and the Battle of Okinawa. Many honored him by sharing stories, talking about his accomplishments, or reminding everyone of his favorite saying. He was 97, a tweet from USS Arizona said. We can't let it happen again.. "The flames swallowed the foremast where we were, " the Nebraska native said in the book. "Acts of individual heroism could be witnessed everywhere you looked. It indicates, "Click to perform a search". In the 21st century, it's not just urns and gravestones anymore. Copyright 2009 - 23 Nero Funeral Home. Funeral services were Saturday, 10:00 am, February 29, 2020 at the Rocky Mountain Calvary Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado. We just kept thinking, Gosh, how much worse can this get, Wittmer said. Don worked for Rohrer Engineering and retired from Forester Systems in 2000. Proudly powered by WordPress | Theme: Fairy by Candid Themes. He was born November 17, 1932 in Neosho, Missouri to Elbert Stratton and Olga Sanders-Stratton. to the family or plant a tree Prior to his passing, Stratton was one of only three surviving USS Arizona crewmen. Donald Stratton died in his sleep several weeks ago at the age of 97. J James December 21, 2018 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. It's a different view from above,. 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. The attack left Stratton with burns over 60 percent of his body, costing him his fingerprints and leaving permanent scars. His actions saved the injured Stratton and five of his shipmates. Flint Journal Homepage. A year later, he reenlisted. 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. Barely 10 minutes into the attack, a bomb pierced the forward deck and buried itself in the Arizonas ammunition stores. your email below for our complimentary daily grief messages. In the Army, you were crawling around in the mud and everything else, and I didnt want to do that.. The fireball went about 60, 70 feet in the air.". Published by Syracuse Post Standard from Sep. 19 to Sep. 21, 2014. DONALD STRATTON - Prince Frederick, Maryland , Sewell Funeral Home - Memories wall BROUGHT TO YOU BY Sewell Funeral Home DONALD JAY STRATTON Prince Frederick, Maryland October 6, 1956 - December 5, 2018 Share Obituary: Tribute Wall Obituary & Events Share a memory Send Flowers Share a memory of DONALD JAY STRATTON. Any and all bookings made prior to May 1, 2021 are the responsibility of the previous owner. Donald upheld their legacy and honored the men that perished that day by honoring the Lord, honoring his country and striving to remember all the gallant men. 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! Donald Stratton Obituary With heavy hearts, we announce the death of Donald Stratton (Red Cloud, Nebraska), born in Inavale, Nebraska, who passed away on February 15, 2020 at the age of 97. Olivet United Church of Christ Memorial Fund. 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. Numerous flags and people were lined along the route to honor the veteran as the motorcade passed through. 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. To plant trees in memory, please visit the. Donald Stratton as a young sailor in 1940. Donald and 5 others climbed hand over hand across the water all already burned, 70 feet including the slope up to the Vestal deck. 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. Legal Statement. By early 1941, the Arizona had steamed down the coast and put in at Pearl Harbor. "One of Donald's final wishes was that people remember Pearl Harbor and the men aboard the USS Arizona. I will always miss you. It burned Donald over 65% of his body. juniper vlan tagging vs trunking. COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. World War II veteran Donald Stratton was transported in a funeral procession from Colorado Springs, Colorado to Red Cloud, Nebraska on Saturday, Feb. 29. David Kessler's top 4 tips for dealing with holiday grief. "And to show that he is such a great American and to show our appreciation for his service to our great country.". BOARDMAN Donald Allen Stratton, 86, of Poland, passed away on Thursday, November 25, 2021 at Mercy Health Center in Boardman surrounded by his family. Joe was on deck fighting fires spread from the Arizona. 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. Your email will not be used for any other purpose. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. It was there he and Randy started their campaign to recognize Joe George, the sailor who threw the line to the burning Arizona. "It's great to just be here to support him and his family," said Michael Watkins of American Legion Riders. "We got hit with the big bomb and that exploded like a million pounds of ammunition. The crew settled into a routine, in port and on training exercises at sea. He was 97. All Rights Reserved 2022. "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. 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. Every memory left on the online obituary will be automatically included in the book. 2 gun turret, and as he walked out, he heard loud voices. Find an Obituary. But the flames found us, catching us all on fire, burning off our clothes, our hair, our skin.". One of Stratton's friends also spoke at his funeral on Saturday. Donald Stratton died late Saturday at his home in Colorado Springs. His skills were endless and his mind was always looking for the next thing to invent, design and bring to life. He was united in holy matrimony to Velma DEtte Lockhart on April 23, 1950. 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. Heroic Pearl Harbor sailor honored with Bronze Star, wrote in his 2016 book, "All the Gallant Men. Copyright 2020 WBTV. Information and advice to help you cope with the death of someone important to you. He participated in six more invasions aboard the USS Stack. The Stratton men called and wrote letters, telling Georges story to anyone who would listen. An avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed hunting and fishing. Per Doc's wishes, a private family service was held. But to many, he was also a symbol of leadership and character. The battleship shuddered as another explosion, the most powerfulyet, cracked its hull. "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. 3 crashes, 2 deaths involving Donald Stratton funeral procession, By Debbie Kelley 2023 PearlHarbor.Org is under the ownership of Mauka Tours LLC effective May 1, 2021. He was one of the last living survivors of the USS Arizona during the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. Randy Stratton Click To Call companies with qualified audit opinion. 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. Stratton died of natural causesin Colorado Springs, Colo., his family said. "We have to bury Lauren Bruner so I had to come back, " Conter, sitting in a wheelchair, said shortly after he arrived. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. It is unknown if Batchelor was injured. briggs and stratton vtwin throttle linkage diagram; patristocrat cipher tips; xpenology dsm 7 vmware workstation. Menu. As long as there be war, I must answer Am I worth dying for?. Later in 2017, the Navy finally awarded George a posthumous Bronze Star with valor, an award many of his supporters said was long overdue. 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. The. 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. On Dec. 7, Stratton, Bruner and Conter watched on board the USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor as theNavy awarded George a posthumous Bronze Star for Valor. BOARDMAN, Ohio (MyValleyTributes) - Donald Allen Stratton, 86, of Poland, passed away on Thursday, November 25, 2021 at Mercy Health Center in Boardman, surrounded by his family. 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. In addition to his parents, Donald is preceded in death by his sisters Martha Hickman and Carol Orr. Home / Articles / Donald Stratton, USS Arizona Survivor, Has Died. It may take up to 1 hour for your comment to appear on the website. His eyes met Strattons. 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. Morris MI went home October 6, 2014 in Kingwood, TX. The battleship sustained crippling damage in the early moments of the assault, the inferno spreading across the deck, setting Strattons clothing on fire. Sunday afternoon, Red Cloud residents volunteered to set up flags at the Red Cloud cemetery in preparation for the funeral ceremony of Donald Stratton, a sailor who survived. "As was already said, and he would say to us grandkids as we'd walk out the door: 'Don't do anything that you cannot do standing up in a hammock,'" said granddaughter Jessika Caldwell. 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 EUGENE STRATTON FUNERAL HOME Swartz Funeral Home - Flint 1225 West Hill Road Flint, MI DONALD STRATTON OBITUARY STRATTON, DONALD EUGENE STRATTON, Donald Eugene born August. He quietly departed this life Saturday, February 15, 2020 in his Colorado Springs, CO home alongside his wife and son. Stratton, 97, a Colorado Springs resident, died Feb. 15. As he attempted to direct the 5-inch guns, the bombers swooped in on the ship and her crew. He was born on August 31, 1944 in New Orleans to Fred and Mae Stratton, who predeceased him. 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. You have funeral questions, we have answers. Stratton was a machinist at Morgan Engineering Co. where he had been employed since 1940. . "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. Your entry has exceeded the maximum character limit. After graduating high school, he did what many young men did during the 1930s and 40s and enlisted in the military. 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. All Rights Reserved. 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. -- In a tragic update to an already somber occasion, we're learning that two people are dead from separate crashes that happened during the funeral motorcade for Pearl Harbor veteran Donald Stratton. Donald Stratton, one of the last USS Arizona survivors from Pearl Harbor who fought for the recognition of one of his heroic shipmates, died Saturday night in his sleep, his granddaughter told Fox . Giving to charity is a meaningful way to honor someone who has died. He was gifted and talented in being able to design and invent something from scratch. Men being strafed as they brought boxes of ammo up ladders to the antiaircraft guns. local_floristSEND FLOWERS. 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. Then the veterans will continue to drive all the way to Red Cloud, Nebraska, where Stratton is from. 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. "I'll come out every year I can until I'm gone.". 'Don' Stratton, age 86, of Wexford, passed away on Monday, November 30, 2020 at North Hills Health and Rehabilitation in Wexford. You can make it,'" Stratton recalled. Stratton and the others snagged it and secured it to the tower. DONALD STRATTON OBITUARY Donald David Stratton, loving husband, father and grandfather, passed away peacefully on February 10, 2015 while vacationing in Montego Bay Jamaica. He saidGeorge threw them a lifeline from his own ship, which was moored next to the Arizona. His wife, Velma, and his son, Randy, were with him. "Thank you for being such a good friend to me. 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. Unique life 8:06 a.m. on Dec. 7, 1941, the big ones and the Battle of Okinawa good... Donald is preceded in death by his sisters Martha Hickman and Carol Orr can. 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