Throughout his life, Donald asked himself that very question. 16 years later, and many many many conversations with Navy Command, the Strattons were able to secure a medal the Bronze Star with Valor to Joe George. juniper vlan tagging vs trunking. 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. Donald Stratton was one of the last three remaining survivors of the USS Arizona. 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. By early 1941, the Arizona had steamed down the coast and put in at Pearl Harbor. Pearl Harbor survivorDonald Stratton, seen here in a recent photo, died Saturday. Donald Stratton passed away at age 72 years old on April 9, 2008. Donald Stratton died in his sleep several weeks ago at the age of 97. Any and all bookings made prior to May 1, 2021 are the responsibility of the previous owner. To have people who pass trying to show respect is terrible.. Stratton is survived by his brother Willie, his son Randy Stratton, his wife, Velma, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Without Joe, my dad wouldnt have been here, Randy Stratton said Sunday. He was reared in Westhope and graduated Westhope High School in 1968. The family has entrusted Seederly-Mong & Beck Funeral Home in North Lima, Ohio with the arrangements for their loved one. cline hanson funeral home obituaries; behinder github; fire kirin download app; starship band members 2022; building a pavilion on a concrete slab; kria kv260. "Plus all the others in all the other wars.". Donald Richard Stratton of Emory, Rains County, Texas was born on March 23, 1936. Stratton headed for his battle station, a steel cube that housed the controls for 25-caliber anti-aircraft guns. Sympathy Ideas . Donald Stratton was one of the last three remaining survivors of the USS Arizona. Donald was buried next to his two daughters and now wife. After WWII ended, he was 100% medically discharged and went on to work with deep sea divers and oil rigs offshore. He met up with the Arizona while it was in dry dock in Bremerton Washington. This Saturday, Landon will say his final goodbye to his friend in Colorado Springs, as the 8-year-old was asked to be a speaker at Donald's memorial. 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. Arizona Final Salute Information Use of this website constitutes acceptance of our Terms & Conditions. Had it been only 14 minutessince Japanese bombers shattered the morning, 14 minutes since an air ambush brought war to Pearl Harbor? Heroic Pearl Harbor sailor honored with Bronze Star, wrote in his 2016 book, "All the Gallant Men. After leaving the Navy, Donald met Velma in Red Cloud and the two married. 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. Every memory left on the online obituary will be automatically included in the book. Your browser does not support this video format. "I'm very grateful. Market data provided by Factset. 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He will be buried there. His parents, his wife of 60 years, Mary Stratton and brother, Ed Stratton,. The war still raged in the Pacific. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. The explosion lifted the ship out of the water. Just past dawn the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor creating an inferno of fire, and strafing ships with machine guns. Sharing his story had been a large part of Strattons life after surviving the attack and fighting throughout World War II. IN LIEU OF FLOWERS.MEMORIALS ARE SUGGESTED TO THE "USS ARIZONA MEMORIAL FUND.". Instead, heescaped the flames, recovered and went on to reenlist in the Navy, work in thecommercial diving businessand travel the world. Williams Funeral Home Enter 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. 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. 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. 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. "Thank you for being such a good friend to me. 3 crashes, 2 deaths involving Donald Stratton funeral procession, By Debbie Kelley 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. POLL: How will the Rockies fare this season in the NL West. Donald was. Stratton was second to go. Eight-year-old Landon Knestrick from North Carolina spoke at the service. 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. 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. [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. To send flowers "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. To send a flower arrangement or to plant trees in memory of Stratton was burned over much of his body. Donald Stratton, USS Arizona Survivor, Has Died, Operation K: A Second Pearl Harbor Attack. To send flowers "We got hit with the big bomb and that exploded like a million pounds of ammunition. your email below for our complimentary daily grief messages. You will be my forever hero.". . 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! We just kept thinking, Gosh, how much worse can this get, Wittmer said. Donald Gene Stratton, 84 of Fayetteville passed away Thursday, January 26, 2017 at Willard Walker Hospice Home. CANDLE HAS BEEN LIT CANDLES HAVE BEEN LIT, We are reviewing your submission. Prior to his passing, Stratton was one of only three surviving USS Arizona crewmen. PAYMENT CENTER Click here to make a payment. The latest breaking news, delivered straight to your email! local_floristSEND FLOWERS. The flag over the USS Arizona Memorial was flown at half-staff in honor of Strattons life and service, the National Memorial said. Finally, in February 1944, he was allowed to reenlist. Donald Stratton died late Saturday at his home in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Back in 2016, Landon heard the veteran's story and made it a goal to meet him. You should be able to view it in Chrome, Safari or Internet Explorer. | Theme: Fairy by Candid Themes. The motorcycle landed in the median. RED CLOUD, Neb. All Rights Reserved 2022. Funeral Home website by. Help tell the story of your loved ones unique life. Donald was a faithful member of Mount Olivet United Church of Christ for over 60 years. Receive a notification when services are updated. Stratton and the others snagged it and secured it to the tower. He was 97. 2023 PearlHarbor.Org is under the ownership of Mauka Tours LLC effective May 1, 2021. He is survived by his brother Willie and his son Randy Stratton (Kathy) and wife Velma. Comfort the family with flowers or a sympathy gift. Market data provided by Factset. Donald J. Stratton, age 70, of Mayville, passed away Wednesday, April 13, 2011 at James E. Cartwright Care Center in Saginaw, MI. in memory of Donald G Stratton, please visit our floral store. 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. 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. Donald J. DONALD STRATTON OBITUARY Donald David Stratton, loving husband, father and grandfather, passed away peacefully on February 10, 2015 while vacationing in Montego Bay Jamaica. Donald passed away last week at age 97. 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. 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. The order had been given for the Vestal to cut loose from the Arizona and head for open water, Stratton said in his book. "One of the first people to do that.". You have funeral questions, we have answers. The average age of a Stratton family member is 72. 'Don' Stratton, age 86, of Wexford, passed away on Monday, November 30, 2020 at North Hills Health and Rehabilitation in Wexford. Family and friends are coming together online to create a special keepsake. The Colorado Springs man was 97. . In 1966, Stratton returned to Pearl Harbor with his family. After graduating high school, he did what many young men did during the 1930s and '40s and enlisted in the military. Search by Name. Funeral Home website by. All Rights Reserved. The war hero was able to live a long life. Average Age & Life Expectancy Donald Richard Stratton lived exactly as long as the average Stratton family member when he died at the age of 72. Find an Obituary. The Navy said George, who died in 1996, was commended in 1942 but he never received any medal for his actions. A fireball swallowed the control tower where Stratton had climbed minutes before. He stopped at his locker, aft of the No. The couple was married for 69 years where they travelled the world and grew a beautiful family. Stratton, 97, a Colorado Springs resident, died Feb. 15. The Stratton Family searched for Joe George for years, finally finding him around the 60th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor. Survivors Lou Conter and Ken Potts are both 98. You have permission to edit this article. Stateside duty, pushing all those recruits through boot, just wasnt for me.. Stratton received burns over 65% of his body. At 19 years old he enlisted in the US Navy and was then assigned to the USS Arizona. The. Klaers is the CEO and president of The National WWII Aviation Museum. Just as he saw it begin, Stratton saw the war end. Both traveled to Washington, D.C., in 2017to meet President Trump in the White House and then-Defense Secretary Jim Mattis at the Pentagon. I looked over and seen the water tower go over. Many honored him by sharing stories, talking about his accomplishments, or reminding everyone of his favorite saying. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, December 1, 2021, at 11:00 am at Mt. On the morning of December 7, 1941, six sailors were rescued from the burning and sinking USS Arizona (BB-39) by Joe George, a crew member of the repair ship USS Vestal (AR-4). Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. 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 ALGONQUIN - Donald J. Stratton, 74, passed on Wednesday, July 16. On December 7, 1941, Mr. Stratton survived the attack on Pearl Harbor with courage, the . And went on to work with deep sea divers and oil rigs offshore Stratton died late at. 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