One of the planes banked, and I seen the rising sun and said, Well, thats the Japanese, mantheyre bombing us.. Hes atrue American hero.. 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 . "We have to bury Lauren Bruner so I had to come back, " Conter, sitting in a wheelchair, said shortly after he arrived. Arizona Final Salute Information Services Sunday . Instead, heescaped the flames, recovered and went on to reenlist in the Navy, work in thecommercial diving businessand travel the world. Stratton headed for his battle station, a steel cube that housed the controls for 25-caliber anti-aircraft guns. After WWII ended, he was 100% medically discharged and went on to work with deep sea divers and oil rigs offshore. Donald Gene Stratton, 84 of Fayetteville passed away Thursday, January 26, 2017 at Willard Walker Hospice Home. Back in 2016, Landon heard the veteran's story and made it a goal to meet him. Mr. Strattons life was recently chronicled in the New York Times Best Seller, All the Gallant Men. 2023 Williams Funeral Homes. There were "people over on the Arizona that were trying to get off, and there was fire all around," he said. But the flames found us, catching us all on fire, burning off our clothes, our hair, our skin.". One of Stratton's friends also spoke at his funeral on Saturday. He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Mildred; daughter Becky (Brad) Bierdeman; son Allen (Jodie) Stratton; Grandchildren Brennan Stratton, Zac White and Marissa White; and great grandchildren Lucy, Zander, and Tatum. All Rights Reserved. Mr. Franklin was a 1938 graduate of Osgood High School and was an Army veteran of WWII where he served in the 119th Infantry Regiment and the 30th Infantry Division. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. His skills were endless and his mind was always looking for the next thing to invent, design and bring to life. He quietly departed this life Saturday, February 15, 2020 in his Colorado Springs, CO home alongside his wife and son. All Rights Reserved.Funeral Home Website by Batesville | Funeral Planning and Grief Resources. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. 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. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! local_floristSEND FLOWERS. Don worked for Rohrer Engineering and retired from Forester Systems in 2000. Submit an Obituary. As long as there be war, I must answer Am I worth dying for?. They were all yelling and pointing toward Ford Island, he said. Donald J. The. On December 7th 2016, 76 years later 3 survivors of the USS Arizona gathered on the USS Arizona Memorial the first time ever to present his daughter JoeAnn with his medal. These were all brave, great men, many of which were still teenagers when this all happened. This was their way out, hand over hand across 70 feet of ropeabove a burning oil slick. Send a note, share a story or upload a photo. "I threw a line over.". BOARDMAN, Ohio (MyValleyTributes) - Donald Allen Stratton, 86, of Poland, passed away on Thursday, November 25, 2021 at Mercy Health Center in Boardman, surrounded by his family. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. your email below for our complimentary daily grief messages. 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. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Your browser does not support this video format. Before George extended a lifeline to the men on the Arizona, he had been using an axe to cut the mooring lines. Heroic Pearl Harbor sailor honored with Bronze Star, wrote in his 2016 book, "All the Gallant Men. 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. It is unknown if Batchelor was injured. Flint Journal Homepage. Donald Stratton passed away at age 72 years old on April 9, 2008. 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. Messages run for up to one year and you We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time. You have permission to edit this article. 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. The couple was married for 69 years where they travelled the world and grew a beautiful family. For more than a decade, Stratton and Bruner lobbied for George to get a Navy Cross or other medal. Funeral services will be 2 P.M. Sunday, April 17, 2011 at Avram Funeral Home in Mayville, with Pastor Dorothy Thon officiating. Donald B. Stratton, Sr., 80, of Camillus, passed away peacefully at home. "I will never forget you and hope to be more like you as I grow up. When the call to battle stations was made, he climbed three ladders to reach his station. 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. To plant trees in memory, please visit the. It's surprising how much a musical selection can affect mourning. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, December 1, 2021, at 11:00 am at Mt. Legal Statement. Other men carrying their wounded buddies to safety, trying desperately to stanch their bleeding. Donald will be laid to rest in Onondaga County Veterans Memorial Cemetery. We can't let it happen again.. The couple was married for 69 years where they travelled the world and grew a beautiful family. I love you and I hope you are enjoying making your shipmates laugh once again," Knestrick said. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. All Rights Reserved 2022. 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. Family and friends are coming together online to create a special keepsake. "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. 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. Throughout his life, Donald asked himself that very question. To send a flower arrangement or to plant trees in memory of The explosion blew apart the forward decks, collapsing turret No. 241 West 4th Avenue 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. 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. The war still raged in the Pacific. CANDLE HAS BEEN LIT CANDLES HAVE BEEN LIT, We are reviewing your submission. No services are scheduled at this time. Legal Statement. 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. Stratton will be eulogized at services in Colorado Springs and buried in a family plot in his hometown,Red Cloud, Nebraska. 2023 Seederly-Mong & Beck Funeral Home. 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. I will always miss you. He was a former deacon and was currently the president of the cemetery committee. Donald reenlisted in the Navy, went through boot camp a second time, and was stationed on the USS Stack for the remainder of the war. Donald was born March 18, 1935 in Boardman, a son of James Allen and Ruth (Craig) Stratton. He and other survivors gathered together and signaled for help, which caught the attention of Joe George aboard the nearby USS Vestal. CONTACT US | He was united in holy matrimony to Velma DEtte on April 23, 1950. After his service to the Navy was finished, he was employed at a diving company and later on an offshore drilling platform. He is now part of our national memory.". After spending over a year in the hospital recovering, Donald re-enlisted in the US Navy as WWII was still raging. 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. Reveille sounded at 5:30 the morning of Dec. 7. "And to show that he is such a great American and to show our appreciation for his service to our great country.". Donald was a faithful member of Mount Olivet United Church of Christ for over 60 years. As long as there be war, I must answer Am I worth dying for?. We're enthusiastic about keeping you informed about the fascinating historical significance of Pearl Harbor! His wife, Velma, and his son, Randy, were with him. 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. After graduating high school, he did what many young men did during the 1930s and '40s and enlisted in the military. Donald Stratton. The flag over the USS Arizona Memorial was flown at half-staff in honor of Strattons life and service, the National Memorial said. It was thunderous.. J James December 21, 2018 He is survived by his brother Willie and his son Randy Stratton (Kathy) and wife Velma. "It comes from the heart, that's what it's about. Stratton and Lauren Bruner, another Arizona survivor, lobbied hard for George to be recognized. 2023 Cappadona Funeral Home The Original Trusted Alternative Funeral Service. I said no, I wanted to go to sea, Stratton said. 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. Bruner, who also made the climb across the rope with Stratton, died Sept. 10 at age 98. We just kept thinking, Gosh, how much worse can this get, Wittmer said. in memory of Donald G Stratton, please visit our floral store. 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. The Navy said George, who died in 1996, was commended in 1942 but he never received any medal for his actions. The procession reached 3 miles long at one point as many bikers joined the trip back to Red Cloud. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. 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 . If desired, contributions can be made to the American Heart Association, 444 Liberty Ave #1300, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. I looked over and seen the water tower go over. 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. By early 1941, the Arizona had steamed down the coast and put in at Pearl Harbor. 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. To have people who pass trying to show respect is terrible.. He participated in six more invasions aboard the USS Stack. He also rebuilt Jeeps, Volkswagens, tractors, motorcycles and anything that had an engine. Relatives and friends may call Monday, September 22 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Buranich Funeral Home, 5431 W. Genesee St., Camillus. juniper vlan tagging vs trunking. "I'll come out every year I can until I'm gone.". In an incredible act of courage, Donald and fellow survivor Lauren Bruner were saved by a sailor named Joe George. Throughout his life, Donald asked himself that very question. Per Doc's wishes, a private family service was held. 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. He was 97. In the fall of 1940, he joined the Navy and was stationed aboard USS Arizona, assigned to man an anti-aircraft gun. Any and all bookings made prior to May 1, 2021 are the responsibility of the previous owner. USS Arizona survivor and World War II veteran Donald Stratton's funeral started at 10 a.m.., and hundreds showed up to pay their respects, even in mid-air. 69 years where they travelled the world and donald stratton funeral a beautiful family never any! Coast and put in at Pearl Harbor decks, collapsing turret No recovered and went to! 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