Graveside services with full military honors were 11:00 am, Monday, March 2, 2020 at the Red Cloud Cemetery, Red Cloud, Nebraska. It was there he and Randy started their campaign to recognize Joe George, the sailor who threw the line to the burning Arizona. Your email will not be used for any other purpose. As long as there be war, I must answer Am I worth dying for?. 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. Donald B. Stratton, Sr., 80, of Camillus, passed away peacefully at home. Still, George "kept saying, 'Come on sailor! He was married to Toni Lunde and this marriage later ended. Mr. Strattons life was recently chronicled in the New York Times Best Seller, All the Gallant Men. The attack on Dec. 7, 1941, attack killed 1,177 sailors and Marines on the mighty battleship, sparing 335. Our support in your time of need does not end after the funeral services. With the Pearl Harbor attack long behind him, Stratton and the others who owed their lives to Joe George began a campaign to have the Vestal crew member honored. 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. Stratton's granddaughter, Nikki, told Fox News hedied "peacefully" with family by his side, including his wife of nearly 70 years, Velma. The war still raged in the Pacific. 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. Reveille sounded at 5:30 the morning of Dec. 7. Donald was born March 18, 1935 in Boardman, a son of James Allen and Ruth (Craig) 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. Donald Stratton returned to the Pacific, took part in campaigns in New Guinea and the Philippines, and the Battle of Okinawa. 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. Family and friends are invited to visitwww.seederly-mongandbeck.comto sign the guestbook or send private condolences. One motorcyclist, a 45-year-old man had minor injuries, and the other, a 46-year-old man had serious but non life-threatening injuries, Lewis said. He saidGeorge threw them a lifeline from his own ship, which was moored next to the Arizona. 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. The bow sagged. Messages run for up to one year and you 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.". 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. As the WWII B-25 circled around the funeral, on the ground, family and friends spoke, wearing Hawaiian shirts and our nation's colors. 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. The couple was married for 69 years where they travelled the world and grew a beautiful family. Your email will not be used for any other purpose. You can unsubscribe at any time. All Rights Reserved. Stratton headed for his battle station, a steel cube that housed the controls for 25-caliber anti-aircraft guns. Don was with the Army from 1959 to 1962, during which he was a radio relay and carrier operator. Before George extended a lifeline to the men on the Arizona, he had been using an axe to cut the mooring lines. Help tell the story of your loved ones unique life. Funeral Home website by. Now only Lou Conter and Ken Potts remain to continue sharing their memories of the events of December 7, 1941 and the Pearl Harbor attack that launched the United States into World War II. Family and friends are invited to gather at the church on Friday morning from 9:00 AM until the . "We have to bury Lauren Bruner so I had to come back, " Conter, sitting in a wheelchair, said shortly after he arrived. 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. I love you and I hope you are enjoying making your shipmates laugh once again," Knestrick said. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Paul Franklin, Jr., Robert Franklin, Charles Franklin, and Floyd Franklin. 2023 SCI SHARED RESOURCES, LLC. Second to last was Lauren Bruner, a fire controlmanwho died in September. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, The family will receive visitors 3 - 6 P.M. Saturday, April. The attack left Stratton with burns over 60 percent of his body, costing him his fingerprints and leaving permanent scars. He is now part of our national memory.". The Arizona was on fire and the Japanese were still attacking. 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. Go read his book, know the sacrifices they made for you. 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. To send flowers His parents, his wife of 60 years, Mary Stratton and brother, Ed Stratton,. Leave a memory or share a photo or video below to show your support. Share their story and never forget those who gave all for our great country, " Stratton's family said on Facebook. Donald J. Stratton. Stratton, 97, a Colorado Springs resident, died Feb. 15. He was skilled in mechanics and during his lifetime built two ultralight airplanes in which he modified the engines in both. On the morning of December 7, 1941, a 19-year-old Donald was beckoned to his battle station as the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor sending the Navy's flagship, the USS Arizona to the depths. A Japanese high altitude bomb hit just forward of the turrets and ignited over 1 million pounds of aviation gas and ammunition. His great grandchildren were so blessed to have spent precious years hearing his stories: Nathan Hernandez, Jax Brewer, Robert Stratton, Kennedy Stratton, Emersyn Caldwell, Bryce Caldwell and Boden Caldwell. Randy and his mother were with Stratton when he died Saturday. The family also learned he was never honored for his bravery on December 7th. The crew learned to work the ships guns, the big ones and the smaller ones, firing at floating targets miles away. "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. Dave began his. 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. Let others know about your loved one's death. Olivet Church, and again on Wednesday, December 1, 2021 from 10:00 am until the time of the service. The life of locally revered World War II veteran Donald Stratton will be celebrated in Colorado Springs on Saturday ahead of an elaborate proc, Comments are open to Gazette subscribers only. Copyright 2020 WBTV. The explosion lifted the ship out of the water. A total of 1, 177 men were killed on the Arizona. 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. Stratton received burns over 65% of his body. All Rights Reserved.Funeral Home Website by Batesville | Funeral Planning and Grief Resources. He then graduated from the University of South Alabama with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing and worked as a certified critical care nurse for 32 years. In 1966, Stratton returned to Pearl Harbor with his family. Donald passed away last week at age 97. 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 met up with the Arizona while it was in dry dock in Bremerton Washington. 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. 2023 Cappadona Funeral Home The Original Trusted Alternative Funeral Service. The flag over the USS Arizona Memorial was flown at half-staff in honor of Strattons life and service, the National Memorial said. "It comes from the heart, that's what it's about. Send simple, comforting meals with Home Chef. I said no, I wanted to go to sea, Stratton said. Is comparing Colorado Springs' and Denver's homeless populations fair or unfair? In his dining room in Colorado Springs, he kept a replica of a diving helmet, the kind divers on his crew used. He joined the USS Stack, a destroyer headed for the Pacific. to the family or plant a tree local_floristSEND FLOWERS. in memory of Donald G Stratton, please visit our floral store. The fireball went about 60, 70 feet in the air.". The couple was married for 69 years where they travelled the world and grew a beautiful family. In an earlier crash, two motorcyclists in the procession after Stratton's memorial at Rocky Mountain Calvary Chapel in Colorado Springs were injured while driving north on Interstate 25. 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. Submit an Obituary. He was united in holy matrimony to Velma DEtte on April 23, 1950. Sympathy Ideas . "One of the first people to do that.". 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 passed away at age 72 years old on April 9, 2008. Enter This site is provided as a service of SCI Shared Resources, LLC. Donald J. Stratton, Sr. March 14, 1928 March 4, 2019. . Family and friends are coming together online to create a special keepsake. Red Cloud, Nebraska 68970, Phone 402-746-2500 J James December 21, 2018 It would be the last time Donald set foot on the Memorial. Instead, heescaped the flames, recovered and went on to reenlist in the Navy, work in thecommercial diving businessand travel the world. Family flowers only, donations, if desired may be given for Stroke Association, by retiring . Joseph Donald Stratton, 65, passed away on December 2, 2021 in Memphis, TN. 'Don' Stratton, age 86, of Wexford, passed away on Monday, November 30, 2020 at North Hills Health and Rehabilitation in Wexford. 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. Elizabeth II was the sovereign of more than one independent state and . This article originally appeared on The Republic | azcentral.com: USS Arizona survivors: Donald Stratton dies in Colorado Springs at 97, _________________________________________, Don Stratton, One of Three Remaining Crew from USS Arizona, Dies at 97, FILE -- In this file photo from Dec. 7, 2016, Donald Stratton, center, a USS Arizona survivor shakes the hand of an admirer at Kilo Pier next to the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Honolulu. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The latest breaking news, delivered straight to your email! Stratton will be eulogized at services in Colorado Springs and buried in a family plot in his hometown, Red Cloud, Nebraska. 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. Obituary BOARDMAN - Donald Allen Stratton, 86, of Poland, passed away on Thursday, November 25, 2021 at Mercy Health Center in Boardman surrounded by his family. cline hanson funeral home obituaries; behinder github; fire kirin download app; starship band members 2022; building a pavilion on a concrete slab; kria kv260. Prior to his passing, Stratton was one of only three surviving USS Arizona crewmen. It may take up to 1 hour for your comment to appear on the website. Born July 14, 1922, Donald Stratton grew up in Red Cloud, NE. Joe was on deck fighting fires spread from the Arizona. Stratton and the others snagged it and secured it to the tower. An avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed hunting and fishing. Home / Articles / Donald Stratton, USS Arizona Survivor, Has Died. A friendship between the two began in 2016. "Acts of individual heroism could be witnessed everywhere you looked. The police motorcade went until the Monument area. Stratton fought in the invasion of the Philippines, in the invasion of Okinawa, on patrol with radar, reporting the advance of suicide bombers. A fireball swallowed the control tower where Stratton had climbed minutes before. Per Doc's wishes, a private family service was held. A funeral service will be held at the North Devon Crematorium on Tuesday 28th February at 10.20am. He was born on August 31, 1944 in New Orleans to Fred and Mae Stratton, who predeceased him. He was one of the last living survivors of the USS Arizona during the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. "Listen, all those men down there on that ship, a thousand of them, they wouldn't do it, and I don't think they'd want me to do it," he said. Donald and Velma were married for 70 years. Dave began his teaching career in the Chicopee Public Schools before transferring to the Springfield Public School System. Back in 2016, Landon heard the veteran's story and made it a goal to meet him. He was 97, a tweet from USS Arizona said. A year later, he reenlisted. 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 News. Six men huddled on the port side fire control tower, burned badly, trapped as the ship sank in the shallow waters near Honolulu that day, Dec. 7, 1941. Throughout his life, Donald asked himself that very question. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. 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. Donald Stratton, a son of Donald and Doris (Sletten) Stratton, was born in Bottineau on April 4, 1950. Legal Statement. Williams Funeral Home 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. You have permission to edit this article. We would like to offer our sincere support to anyone coping with grief. 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. Your browser does not support this video format. He stopped at his locker, aft of the No. "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. Funeral services will be 2 P.M. Sunday, April 17, 2011 at Avram Funeral Home in Mayville, with Pastor Dorothy Thon officiating. 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! Access all of our premium content, get unlimited digital access and more! At one point in his life, he had no fingerprints as they had all been burned through and off. [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. 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. For more than a decade, Stratton and Bruner lobbied for George to get a Navy Cross or other medal. In the fall of 1940, he joined the Navy and was stationed aboard USS Arizona, assigned to man an anti-aircraft gun. Stratton, Donald, age 89 of Arden Hills, passed away peacefully at home on March 8, 2020. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. The Dignity Memorial brand name is used to identify a network of licensed funeral, cremation and cemetery providers that include affiliates of Service Corporation International, 1929 Allen Parkway, Houston, Texas. Bruner, who also made the climb across the rope with Stratton, died Sept. 10 at age 98. He went through multiple surgeries to replace as much of the skin on his legs and hands as was possible. In the 21st century, it's not just urns and gravestones anymore. Stratton. On that day, 1,177 men perished in the explosion leaving just 300 alive. It was thunderous.. 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. can stop at any time. 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! He also rebuilt Jeeps, Volkswagens, tractors, motorcycles and anything that had an engine. After WWII ended, he was 100% medically discharged and went on to work with deep sea divers and oil rigs offshore. 241 West 4th Avenue We just kept thinking, Gosh, how much worse can this get, Wittmer said. All the while these men were dodging enemy bullets that were cutting everything around them to shreds, including their fellow sailors.". 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. He was a communicant of St. Joseph's Church. He taught. Donald was buried next to his two daughters and now wife. Funeral Home website by. He would have died on that platform.. Donald was predeceased by his daughter, Donna Stratton; parents, Robert and Ida Stratton; and brother, Robert Stratton Jr. It burned Donald over 65% of his body. Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love. In the fall of 1940, he joined the Navy and was stationed aboard USS Arizona, assigned to man an anti-aircraft gun. We're enthusiastic about keeping you informed about the fascinating historical significance of Pearl Harbor! 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. The Secretary of the Navy spoke, as well as Senator of Colorado Cory Gardner. After spending over a year in the hospital recovering, Donald re-enlisted in the US Navy as WWII was still raging. 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. 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. williamsfuneralhomes@yahoo.com. Numerous flags and people were lined along the route to honor the veteran as the motorcade passed through. He quietly departed this life Saturday, February 15, 2020 in his Colorado Springs, CO home alongside his wife and son. Stratton will be eulogized at services in Colorado Springs,. Messages run for up to one year and you The sailor on the Vestal motioned to the six Arizona crewmen. 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. 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. 'S death, brothers Paul Franklin, Charles Franklin, Charles Franklin Jr.! Alongside donald stratton funeral wife and son Feb. 15 much of the USS Arizona said began teaching! Orleans to Fred and Mae Stratton, please visit our floral store made the climb across the with... 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