or redistributed. Men being strafed as they brought boxes of ammo up ladders to the antiaircraft guns. 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. Williams Funeral Home Before George extended a lifeline to the men on the Arizona, he had been using an axe to cut the mooring lines. In the fall of 1940, he joined the Navy and was stationed aboard USS Arizona, assigned to man an anti-aircraft gun. Proudly powered by WordPress | Theme: Fairy by Candid Themes. Published by Syracuse Post Standard from Sep. 19 to Sep. 21, 2014. Enter your email below to receive a grief support message from us each day for a year. 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. Born in Bath, NY, he lived in Camillus for more than 15 years. "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. 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. Agawam - Donald David Stratton, loving husband, father and grandfather, passed away peacefully on February 10, 2015 while vacationing in Montego Bay Jamaica. It indicates, "Click to perform a search". However, on the morning of December 7th all that changed. The Patriot Guard's Wittmer, who lives in Aurora, said the motorcycles apparently crashed into each another. Family flowers only, donations, if desired may be given for Stroke Association, by retiring . Legal Statement. Donald Stratton was one of the last three remaining survivors of the USS Arizona. They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel. Donald Stratton - Arizona Final Salute Donald Stratton Donald was born July 14, 1922 in Invale Nebraska and grew up in Red Cloud, Nebraska. After recovering, Donald went back to Red Cloud and worked with his father. 1 some 28 feet and sending a fireball 500 feet into the air. The latest breaking news, delivered straight to your email! Donald R. Doc Stratton, age 60 of Roseville, MN, formerly of Westhope, died Saturday in Roseville. Outside the ceremony were dozens of veterans on motorcycles, ready to help take Stratton home to Red Cloud, Nebraska for his final resting place. Home / Articles / Donald Stratton, USS Arizona Survivor, Has Died. Martin Pable, OFM Cap. The Arizona motored through the Pacific to the sandy beaches of Honolulu Hawaii and Pearl Harbor not bad for a flatlander from Nebraska. 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. free past performances 365 "It's great to just be here to support him and his family," said Michael Watkins of American Legion Riders. It's just our way of saying goodbye," Bill Klaers said. 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. PearlHarbor.Org is a privately owned website and is not owned or operated by, nor affiliated with, a Government Agency. All Rights Reserved. Leave a memory or share a photo or video below to show your support. Donald was burned over 65% of his body and escaped the inferno by climbing across a line to a neighboring shipthe USS Vestal. Following the service, the Colorado Springs Police Department escorted the family and the casket. After graduating high school, he did what many young men did during the 1930s and '40s and enlisted in the military. Instead, heescaped the flames, recovered and went on to reenlist in the Navy, work in thecommercial diving businessand travel the world. Donald B. Stratton, Sr., 80, of Camillus, passed away peacefully at home. He went through multiple surgeries to replace as much of the skin on his legs and hands as was possible. I looked over and seen the water tower go over. Market data provided by Factset. 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 actions saved the injured Stratton and five of his shipmates. The motorcycle landed in the median. in memory of Donald G Stratton, please visit our floral store. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner), The Honolulu Star-Advertiser | By William Cole. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. The flag over the USS Arizona Memorial was flown at half-staff in honor of Strattons life and service, the National Memorial said. to the family or plant a tree in memory of Donald A. Stratton, please visit our floral store. 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. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. 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. He would have died on that platform.. 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. 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. Donald Stratton died late Saturday at his home in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He and other survivors gathered together and signaled for help, which caught the attention of Joe George aboard the nearby USS Vestal. Stratton is survived by his brother Willie, his son Randy Stratton, his wife, Velma, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. . Menu. [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. Messages run for up to one year and you Donald J. Stratton. 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. He met up with the Arizona while it was in dry dock in Bremerton Washington. All rights reserved. Stratton was a machinist at Morgan Engineering Co. where he had been employed since 1940. . Donald Stratton was one of the last three remaining survivors of the USS Arizona. quest diagnostics 32791n. Comfort the family with flowers or a sympathy gift. 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. Stratton, 97, a Colorado Springs resident, died Feb. 15. Finally, he was given a medical discharge and returned to Nebraska. He joined the USS Stack, a destroyer headed for the Pacific. 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? A friendship between the two began in 2016. At 19 years old he enlisted in the US Navy and was then assigned to the USS Arizona. Joe was on deck fighting fires spread from the Arizona. Menu. It would be the last time Donald set foot on the Memorial. cline hanson funeral home obituaries; behinder github; fire kirin download app; starship band members 2022; building a pavilion on a concrete slab; kria kv260. 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.". 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. 2023 Williams Funeral Homes. Family and friends are invited to visitwww.seederly-mongandbeck.comto sign the guestbook or send private condolences. Donald Stratton. His eyes met Strattons. Donald Stratton died in his sleep several weeks ago at the age of 97. He was reared in Westhope and graduated Westhope High School in 1968. Many honored him by sharing stories, talking about his accomplishments, or reminding everyone of his favorite saying. J James December 21, 2018 Stratton could not. 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 . 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. Send a note, share a story or upload a photo. 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. Donald Stratton died late Saturday at his home in Colorado Springs, Colorado. All the while these men were dodging enemy bullets that were cutting everything around them to shreds, including their fellow sailors.". 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. Donald Stratton graduated from high school in 1940, a star athlete who needed work during hard times. All Rights Reserved 2022. 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. Still, George "kept saying, 'Come on sailor! Donald Stratton hoped that the events of December 7, 1941 and the men who sacrificed themselves would never be forgotten. In an incredible act of courage, Donald and fellow survivor Lauren Bruner were saved by a sailor named Joe George. Stratton and Lauren Bruner, another Arizona survivor, lobbied hard for George to be recognized. Services Sunday . Joe George saved 6 lives that day, and was never awarded for his heroism until 76 years later. Funeral services were Saturday, 10:00 am, February 29, 2020 at the Rocky Mountain Calvary Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Olivet United Church of Christ Memorial Fund. Relatives and friends may call Monday, September 22 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Buranich Funeral Home, 5431 W. Genesee St., Camillus. I love you and I hope you are enjoying making your shipmates laugh once again," Knestrick said. Family and friends are coming together online to create a special keepsake. "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 97. 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. Legal Statement. 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 fireball that engulfed the Arizona lifted the ship over 50 feet out of the water before slamming back down to the sand below. Many putting out fires on board their ships. Stratton was second to go. Klaers is the CEO and president of The National WWII Aviation Museum. After leaving the Navy, Donald met Velma in Red Cloud and the two married. 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. "I threw a line over.". The couple was married for 69 years where they travelled the world and grew a beautiful family. to the family or plant a tree An avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed hunting and fishing. Friends may sign the online register book at www.nerofuneralhome.net. For Stratton, Bruner and the four other men, salvation appeared in the form of Joe George, a sailor and boxer on the Vestal. After WWII ended, he was 100% medically discharged and went on to work with deep sea divers and oil rigs offshore. Hes atrue American hero.. 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. FOR DONALD STRATTON Aug 13 Service 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Grace United Methodist Church 309 Herman Avenue, Lemoyne, PA Send Flowers Funeral services provided by: Musselman Funeral Home &. 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 fireball went about 60, 70 feet in the air.". PHOENIX Through the soles of his shoes, Donald Stratton could feel the heat from the platform where he stood on the wounded USS Arizona. Stratton's granddaughter, Nikki, told Fox News hedied "peacefully" with family by his side, including his wife of nearly 70 years, Velma. Wittmer said the procession included other groups besides the Patriot Guard, including American Legion riders. Brought boxes of ammo up ladders to the USS Arizona day for a donald stratton funeral from Nebraska fighting spread... 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