Donald Stratton hoped that the events of December 7, 1941 and the men who sacrificed themselves would never be forgotten. 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. your email below for our complimentary daily grief messages. He was reared in Westhope and graduated Westhope High School in 1968. Donald retired from the U.S. Air Force after more than. Enter Read more about the life story of Donald and share your memory. Stratton would learn that George, who died in 1996, had defied orders to cut the Vestals line, a decision that likely cost him a commendation. Donald Stratton was one of the last three remaining survivors of the USS Arizona. 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 Gene Stratton, 84 of Fayetteville passed away Thursday, January 26, 2017 at Willard Walker Hospice Home. Mr. Donald G. Stratton, was born July14, 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. It may take up to 1 hour for your comment to appear on the website. 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. 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. All Rights Reserved. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Paul Franklin, Jr., Robert Franklin, Charles Franklin, and Floyd Franklin. Sharing his story had been a large part of Strattons life after surviving the attack and fighting throughout World War II. Many putting out fires on board their ships. Just as he saw it begin, Stratton saw the war end. Back in 2016, Landon heard the veteran's story and made it a goal to meet him. You have permission to edit this article. David Kessler's top 4 tips for dealing with holiday grief. He is survived by his brother Willie and his son Randy Stratton (Kathy) and wife Velma. Saul-Gabauer Funeral Home & Sylvania Hills Memorial Park, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. The attack on Dec. 7, 1941, attack killed 1,177 sailors and Marines on the mighty battleship, sparing 335. The family suggests memorial donations may be made in Dons name to the Mt. 'Don' Stratton, age 86, of Wexford, passed away on Monday, November 30, 2020 at North Hills Health and Rehabilitation in Wexford. Sign up for service and obituary updates. You will be my forever hero.". They pulled a heavier line over and one by one began to climb across the gap separating the two ships. Donald and 5 others climbed hand over hand across the water all already burned, 70 feet including the slope up to the Vestal deck. 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). Market data provided by Factset. Sometimes, Japanese pilots attended memorial ceremonies, and some of the other survivors would shake their hands. Your entry has exceeded the maximum character limit. A funeral Mass will be celebrated Tuesday, September 23 at 11 a.m. in St. Joseph's Church. We can't let it happen again.. Don worked for Rohrer Engineering and retired from Forester Systems in 2000. Receive a notification when services are updated. He was the best dad in the whole wide world. Home / Articles / Donald Stratton, USS Arizona Survivor, Has Died. 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. Joe served in the United States Army Special Forces after serving our country as an airborne medic. 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. It is unknown if Batchelor was injured. Donald retired from the U.S. Air Force after more than 20 years. Stratton, Donald, age 89 of Arden Hills, passed away peacefully at home on March 8, 2020. Every memory left on the online obituary will be automatically included in the book. 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. In conjunction with the Dec. 7 ceremony that year, the deputy commander of U.S. Pacific Fleet presented a Bronze Star with "V " Device for Valor to George's daughter, Joe Ann Taylor, aboard the USS Arizona Memorial. 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. Two motorists lost their lives in Gove County, Kan., including a member of the Kansas Patriot Guard motorcycle group that was escorting Strattons coffin for burial. He quietly departed this life Saturday, February 15, 2020 in his Colorado Springs, CO home alongside his wife and son. Funeral Home website by. 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. The battleship sustained crippling damage in the early moments of the assault, the inferno spreading across the deck, setting Strattons clothing on fire. He was gifted and talented in being able to design and invent something from scratch. Red Cloud, Nebraska 68970, Phone 402-746-2500 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. Stratton received burns over 65% of his body. Bruner, who also made the climb across the rope with Stratton, died Sept. 10 at age 98. Second to last was Lauren Bruner, a fire controlmanwho died in September. This site is provided as a service of SCI Shared Resources, LLC. Morris MI went home October 6, 2014 in Kingwood, TX. By early 1941, the Arizona had steamed down the coast and put in at Pearl Harbor. To send flowers Family and friends are invited to gather at the church on Friday morning from 9:00 AM until the . Mr. Stratton loved God, loved his country and loved his family. It's surprising how much a musical selection can affect mourning. Prior to his passing, Stratton was one of only three surviving USS Arizona crewmen. He wanted to be at home, Randy said. The explosion lifted the ship out of the water. My hero is gone but will always be in my heart. Send a note, share a story or upload a photo. Use of this website constitutes acceptance of our Terms & Conditions. He is preceded in death by his parents, Jesse and Nellie Stratton; and 13 siblings. He was 97. 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. Heroic Pearl Harbor sailor honored with Bronze Star, wrote in his 2016 book, "All the Gallant Men. Copyright 2009 - 23 Nero Funeral Home. Funeral Home website by. "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. | Theme: Fairy by Candid Themes. 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. 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. He met up with the Arizona while it was in dry dock in Bremerton Washington. In time, he tried to let go of his anger toward the Japanese, but he could never forget what happened. Family and friends are coming together online to create a special keepsake. 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. He was 97. The Arizona motored through the Pacific to the sandy beaches of Honolulu Hawaii and Pearl Harbor not bad for a flatlander from Nebraska. He was 97. If youre in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist. Stateside duty, pushing all those recruits through boot, just wasnt for me.. Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love. A lot of young men were joining the military as rumors buzzed about when the United States might be dragged into the war. 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. Once out to sea Donald really found his sea legs, feeling like his secondary home was always on the water. But, something was missing, he wanted to return to WWII. AboutPressCopyrightContact. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, December 1, 2021, at 11:00 am at Mt. A Dodge Grand Caravan driven by 51-year-old Tanja Batchelor of Colorado Springs was driving behind Riedel and struck him in the passing lane. Donald Stratton died in his sleep several weeks ago at the age of 97. 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. Donald Stratton, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store. He was 97, a tweet from USS Arizona said. "OnceI made a dive in a two-man submarine, down in over 1,200 feet of water off Santa Barbara coast," he said. 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. Joe was on deck fighting fires spread from the 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. companies with qualified audit opinion. Find an Obituary. The Navy offered him a job as a chief petty officer running recruits through boot camp in Idaho. In an incredible act of courage, Donald and fellow survivor Lauren Bruner were saved by a sailor named Joe George. Information and advice to help you cope with the death of someone important to you. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. 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. Friends will be received on Saturday from 11am until the time of funeral services at 1pm at the SAUL - GABAUER FUNERAL HOME, INC., 273 Route 68 Rochester (Adjacent to Sylvania Hills Memorial Park Mausoleum.) I love you and I hope you are enjoying making your shipmates laugh once again," Knestrick said. debbie.kelley@gazette.com, Homes built by Covington Homes build community, The Girl Scout Cookie Program feeds entrepreneurial and life skills, Slim Chickens spreads its wings and adds second restaurant in Falcon area, Catholic nuns bring awareness with food drive to benefit Westside Cares in Colorado Springs, From seeing to believing, Mesa Ridge basketball's buy-in to new coach created unbeaten season, 3 takeaways from Colorado Avalanche home loss to Devils; Annunen struggles, comeback falls short, LETTERS: Our trails and greenways; depressing and a disgrace, Don't miss out get to Julies Kitchen in Colorado Springs early | Dining review, A game of chess? 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. Stratton was a machinist at Morgan Engineering Co. where he had been employed since 1940. . The police motorcade went until the Monument area. "Our grandfather has just been involved in every aspect of our life," said Nikki Stratton, Don's youngest granddaughter. A 1953 Boardman High School graduate, he married the former Mildred Guterba in February 1957 and shortly thereafter joined the US Army. "We got hit with the big bomb and that exploded like a million pounds of ammunition. It indicates, "Click to perform a search". They moved back to California briefly and then settled in Colorado Springs. 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. Both traveled to Washington, D.C., in 2017to meet President Trump in the White House and then-Defense Secretary Jim Mattis at the Pentagon. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. tomorrow in Sharer-Stirling Funeral Home with . Conter, who was on the stern of the battleship when the big bomb hit, returned to Pearl Harbor for the most recent Dec. 7 observance, in part to be present for the interment of fellow crew member Lauren Bruner. Any and all bookings made prior to May 1, 2021 are the responsibility of the previous owner. Minutes later, the heaving line secured to the tower, the six men climbed down the rope to the Vestal. Smoke and flames choked the air, but Stratton saw someone moving on a smaller ship that had been tethered to the Arizona. "One of the first people to do that.". 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. 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