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. He and Velma retired to Yuma, where they lived for about 15 years. The fireball went about 60, 70 feet in the air.". Morris MI went home October 6, 2014 in Kingwood, TX. He was one of the last living survivors of the USS Arizona during the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. J James December 21, 2018 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 . "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. 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. His wife, Velma, and his son, Randy, were with him. He quietly departed this life Saturday, February 15, 2020 in his Colorado Springs, CO home alongside his wife and son. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Paul Franklin, Jr., Robert Franklin, Charles Franklin, and Floyd Franklin. Access all of our premium content, get unlimited digital access and more! Following the service, the Colorado Springs Police Department escorted the family and the casket. Stratton was burned over much of his body. or redistributed. 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 Stratton (July 14, 1922 - February 15, 2020) was an American veteran and memoirist of World War II who served in the United States Navy 's Pacific Fleet. After WWII ended, he was 100% medically discharged and went on to work with deep sea divers and oil rigs offshore. Obituaries Section. Olivet Church, and again on Wednesday, December 1, 2021 from 10:00 am until the time of the service. Donald Stratton passed away at age 72 years old on April 9, 2008. 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. The couple was married for 69 years where they travelled the world and grew a beautiful family. BOARDMAN Donald Allen Stratton, 86, of Poland, passed away on Thursday, November 25, 2021 at Mercy Health Center in Boardman surrounded by his family. We would like to offer our sincere support to anyone coping with grief. Red Cloud, Nebraska 68970, Phone 402-746-2500 Both traveled to Washington, D.C., in 2017to meet President Trump in the White House and then-Defense Secretary Jim Mattis at the Pentagon. Upper Colorado Basin states postpone release of water to Lake Powell, Weekend things to do around Denver and beyond, Jurassic Quest, Banff Film Festival, Dart Wars and ski joring highlight weekend slate around Colorado Springs, PHOTOS: Cheyenne Mountain hockey beats Durango 5-0 in semifinals, PHOTOS: Nuggets 134-124 Overtime Win Over Clippers, SPECIAL REPORT | 4 recent murders: Colorado's troubled family court system ignores children in peril, Colorado Springs Mayoral Race | 2023 candidates and issues, GAZETTE PODCASTS | News, Sports, Cold Cases and Lifestyle, Sign up for our newsletters and get news that matters sent to your inbox, Watch: Donald Stratton's memorial service in Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs sends final salute to Pearl Harbor survivor Donald Stratton, Multiple-car crash shuts down North Academy Boulevard in Colorado Springs Saturday night, Major I-25 Colorado Springs exit ramp to close for construction, Social Security update: First of March's two SSI payments to arrive in five days. 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. "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. Giving to charity is a meaningful way to honor someone who has died. This image is an artists recreation of the burns Donald suffered during Pearl Harbor. Leave a sympathy message to the family on the memorial page of Donald Stratton to pay them a last tribute. . 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. He participated in six more invasions aboard the USS Stack. Just past dawn the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor creating an inferno of fire, and strafing ships with machine guns. Share their story and never forget those who gave all for our great country, " Stratton's family said on Facebook. Donald Gene Stratton, 84 of Fayetteville passed away Thursday, January 26, 2017 at Willard Walker Hospice Home. There were "people over on the Arizona that were trying to get off, and there was fire all around," he said. They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel. 2023 Cappadona Funeral Home The Original Trusted Alternative Funeral Service. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. tomorrow in Sharer-Stirling Funeral Home with . 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. Send a note, share a story or upload a photo. Grief researchers say holding that missing funeral service, even a year or more later, can still help us heal. 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. "The flames swallowed the foremast where we were, " the Nebraska native said in the book. The driver of a Honda Accord, 81-year-old Carl Silvrants of Fredericksburg, Va., was killed when he tried to get around the motorcycle crash and hit a parked firetruck on Interstate 70. Wittmer said the procession included other groups besides the Patriot Guard, including American Legion riders. 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 held many titles: a veteran, a survivor, a hero. Many Colorado Patriot Guard members only went as far as Limon, where other Patriot Guard riders took over the escort, he said. 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. Donald was buried next to his two daughters and now wife. Many honored him by sharing stories, talking about his accomplishments, or reminding everyone of his favorite saying. Receive a notification when services are updated. The battleship sustained crippling damage in the early moments of the assault, the inferno spreading across the deck, setting Strattons clothing on fire. "It's great to just be here to support him and his family," said Michael Watkins of American Legion Riders. It's a different view from above, but the purpose was the same: honoring one of the remaining few from the Greatest Generation. All Rights Reserved 2022. 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. 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. The crew learned to work the ships guns, the big ones and the smaller ones, firing at floating targets miles away. He was married to Toni Lunde and this marriage later ended. In time, he tried to let go of his anger toward the Japanese, but he could never forget what happened. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner), The Honolulu Star-Advertiser | By William Cole. While on the Arizona the Tradewinds began to blow some of the smoke away, and the sailors got the attention of a sailor on the USS Vestal, named Joe George. Mr. Stratton loved God, loved his country and loved his family. To send a flower arrangement or to plant trees in memory of A year later, he reenlisted. 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. The bow sagged. Still others in small boats, navigating through the fiery sea, pulling oil-soaked sailors from the water. Arizona Final Salute Information At one point in his life, he had no fingerprints as they had all been burned through and off. I said no, I wanted to go to sea, Stratton said. -- 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. As long as there be war, I must answer Am I worth dying for?. Flint Journal. We can't let it happen again.. Stratton was second to go. But George stood his ground, and the six men, although badly burned, were able to climb hand over hand above oily, burning water to safety. Don also enjoyed spending time with family at their cabin in the Allegheny Mountains, which he helped build. 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 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. Stratton told his own story many times over the years. 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. He met up with the Arizona while it was in dry dock in Bremerton Washington. quest diagnostics 32791n. We should never forget what these guys did for us, Randy said Sunday from Colorado Springs. 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. Funeral Home website by. Mr. Strattons life was recently chronicled in the New York Times Best Seller, All the Gallant Men. Comfort the family with flowers or a sympathy gift. 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. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Joe George saved 6 lives that day, and was never awarded for his heroism until 76 years later. Search by Name. 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. 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. Prior to his passing, Stratton was one of only three surviving USS Arizona crewmen. Donald Stratton returned to the Pacific, took part in campaigns in New Guinea and the Philippines, and the Battle of Okinawa. Graveside services with full military honors were 11:00 am, Monday, March 2, 2020 at the Red Cloud Cemetery, Red Cloud, Nebraska. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. The couple was married for 69 years where they travelled the world and grew a beautiful family. CANDLE HAS BEEN LIT CANDLES HAVE BEEN LIT, We are reviewing your submission. If desired, contributions can be made to the American Heart Association, 444 Liberty Ave #1300, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. 2023 PearlHarbor.Org is under the ownership of Mauka Tours LLC effective May 1, 2021. Klaers is the CEO and president of The National WWII Aviation Museum. 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. Sign up for service and obituary updates. As a mother, I couldnt bear the thought of my son having to endure what these men did, especially those who lost their lives! You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! He was united in holy matrimony to Velma DEtte Lockhart on April 23, 1950. Donald Stratton - Arizona Final Salute Donald Stratton Donald was born July 14, 1922 in Invale Nebraska and grew up in Red Cloud, Nebraska. WEIGH the SERVICE Date of Death: September 19, 2014. Donald was born March 18, 1935 in Boardman, a son of James Allen and Ruth (Craig) Stratton. can stop at any time. Family and friends are invited to gather at the church on Friday morning from 9:00 AM until the . 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. He wanted to be at home, Randy said. Donald was predeceased by his daughter, Donna Stratton; parents, Robert and Ida Stratton; and brother, Robert Stratton Jr. Friends may sign the online register book at www.nerofuneralhome.net. Still, George "kept saying, 'Come on sailor! 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. Donald Richard Stratton of Emory, Rains County, Texas was born on March 23, 1936. Use of this website constitutes acceptance of our Terms & Conditions. Enter your email below to receive a grief support message from us each day for a year. 'Don' Stratton, age 86, of Wexford, passed away on Monday, November 30, 2020 at North Hills Health and Rehabilitation in Wexford. Sometimes, Japanese pilots attended memorial ceremonies, and some of the other survivors would shake their hands. Stratton figured he could do with the $21 a month, so he joined the Navy. Donald Stratton was one of the last three remaining survivors of the USS Arizona. Stratton could not. 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. His eyes met Strattons. 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. A magnifying glass. They moved back to California briefly and then settled in Colorado Springs. "I will never forget you and hope to be more like you as I grow up. Read more about the life story of Donald and share your memory. [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. Pearl Harbor survivorDonald Stratton, seen here in a recent photo, died Saturday. juniper vlan tagging vs trunking. 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. Hes atrue American hero.. Donald Stratton was one of the last three remaining survivors of the USS Arizona. We're enthusiastic about keeping you informed about the fascinating historical significance of Pearl Harbor! Born July 14, 1922, Donald Stratton grew up in Red Cloud, NE. After graduating high school, he did what many young men did during the 1930s and 40s and enlisted in the military. The battleship shuddered as another explosion, the most powerfulyet, cracked its hull. 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 attack left Stratton with burns over 60 percent of his body, costing him his fingerprints and leaving permanent scars. Stratton and the others snagged it and secured it to the tower. Donald Stratton, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store. Flint Journal Homepage. His wife, Velma, and his son, Randy, were with him. 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. 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 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. 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. Nikki Stratton Send Email, [fts_facebook type=page id=289485248175495 access_token=EAAP9hArvboQBAEi1R1HgHwQjvEYQNPEGpuPOABmjB9K4EBjkJe4hgR8vKFO73Y68qsB12SciZCXlQUKqM3Bo6j0aRaBTttEAZCTmmbAbnArwdMNWflcFJf4ojDXaid7TYrrnDXwP4IbFjzO9kuPtRRZBhNJF1fBwO7xY4aysvP6KidXpvYQGzElcSOgZCY4ZD posts=10 height=800px description=no posts_displayed=page_only]. The explosion lifted the ship out of the water. 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. 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. free past performances 365 Randy Stratton Click To Call The war still raged in the Pacific. On February 15, 2020, one of those men, Donald Stratton, passed away after spending years working to gain recognition forthe hero who saved him. 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. He went through multiple surgeries to replace as much of the skin on his legs and hands as was possible. 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. The Stratton men called and wrote letters, telling Georges story to anyone who would listen. 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. Don Stratton, who escaped a burning USS Arizona by making a harrowing hand-over-hand climb across a rope to an adjacent ship on Dec. 7, 1941, died Saturday, leaving just two living survivors of the famed battleship. By early 1941, the Arizona had steamed down the coast and put in at Pearl Harbor. Donald was burned over 65% of his body and escaped the inferno by climbing across a line to a neighboring shipthe USS Vestal. 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. "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. He was born on August 31, 1944 in New Orleans to Fred and Mae Stratton, who predeceased him. After his service to the Navy was finished, he was employed at a diving company and later on an offshore drilling platform. Our support in your time of need does not end after the funeral services. The Stratton Family searched for Joe George for years, finally finding him around the 60th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor. Helping USS Arizona Survivors and their Families. A friendship between the two began in 2016. He was taken to a hospital in San Francisco, where he convalesced for the better part of 1942. His skills were endless and his mind was always looking for the next thing to invent, design and bring to life. The latest breaking news, delivered straight to your email! Messages run for up to one year and you 2023 Williams Funeral Homes. Stratton's granddaughter, Nikki, told Fox News hedied "peacefully" with family by his side, including his wife of nearly 70 years, Velma. He was 97. local_floristSEND FLOWERS. 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. One of the planes banked, and I seen the rising sun and said, Well, thats the Japanese, mantheyre bombing us.. Bruner, who also made the climb across the rope with Stratton, died Sept. 10 at age 98. 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. | Theme: Fairy by Candid Themes. You will be my forever hero.". Back in 2016, Landon heard the veteran's story and made it a goal to meet him. 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. The family also learned he was never honored for his bravery on December 7th. The funeral procession for Donald was something for the history books, rivaling and surpassing that of any past Presidents. Joseph Donald Stratton, 65, passed away on December 2, 2021 in Memphis, TN. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Howard Stratton of Alliance. Help tell the story of your loved ones unique life. 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. When the call to battle stations was made, he climbed three ladders to reach his station. Stratton will be eulogized at services in Colorado Springs and buried in a family plot in his hometown, Red Cloud, Nebraska. Get unlimited digital access and more a meaningful way to honor someone has... Be more like you as I grow up next thing to invent, design and bring life. To anyone who would listen never awarded for his bravery on December 7th made to the,! 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