Ways to honor Donald Stratton's life and legacy. This image is an artists recreation of the burns Donald suffered during Pearl Harbor. He managed to throw a monkeys fist with a heaving line attached over to the men. 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. local_floristSEND FLOWERS. Reveille sounded at 5:30 the morning of Dec. 7. Olivet Church, and again on Wednesday, December 1, 2021 from 10:00 am until the time of the service. Barely 10 minutes into the attack, a bomb pierced the forward deck and buried itself in the Arizonas ammunition stores. He was united in holy matrimony to Velma DEtte Lockhart on April 23, 1950. "We can't forget what happened there that day. Donald Stratton - Arizona Final Salute Donald Stratton Donald was born July 14, 1922 in Invale Nebraska and grew up in Red Cloud, Nebraska. Stratton finished breakfast and filled his white hat with oranges on his way to visit a buddy in sick bay. Joe served in the United States Army Special Forces after serving our country as an airborne medic. 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. Donald Stratton passed away at age 72 years old on April 9, 2008. To send flowers 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. Enter 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. It's a different view from above, but the purpose was the same: honoring one of the remaining few from the Greatest Generation. 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BOARDMAN Donald Allen Stratton, 86, of Poland, passed away on Thursday, November 25, 2021 at Mercy Health Center in Boardman surrounded by his family. 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. The police motorcade went until the Monument area. The order had been given for the Vestal to cut loose from the Arizona and head for open water, Stratton said in his book. The battleship sustained crippling damage in the early moments of the assault, the inferno spreading across the deck, setting Strattons clothing on fire. He and other survivors gathered together and signaled for help, which caught the attention of Joe George aboard the nearby USS Vestal. They were all yelling and pointing toward Ford Island, he said. 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. Unless you are experienced as an estate executor, you probably should hire an attorney. But to many, he was also a symbol of leadership and character. The war still raged in the Pacific. For more than a decade, Stratton and Bruner lobbied for George to get a Navy Cross or other medal. Giving to charity is a meaningful way to honor someone who has died. It may take up to 1 hour for your comment to appear on the website. Dave began his. to the family or plant a tree Hundreds honor Donald Stratton on ground, in air, and on motorcycle for funeral, Persons of interest identified after 2 juveniles shot and killed in Falcon, New details released following shootout with suspect and El Paso County deputies near Colorado Springs, Parent speaks out against Woodland Park 6th grade changes, WATCH - Penrose Library reopened, deemed safe following further testing for meth residue. 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. juniper vlan tagging vs trunking. He also piloted the flyover at Stratton's funeral. The couple was married for 69 years where they travelled the world and grew a beautiful family. 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. Many Colorado Patriot Guard members only went as far as Limon, where other Patriot Guard riders took over the escort, he said. It was there he and Randy started their campaign to recognize Joe George, the sailor who threw the line to the burning Arizona. Friends may sign the online register book at www.nerofuneralhome.net. All rights reserved. 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. Flint Journal Homepage. It's a different view from above,. "He gave us his words, through 'All the Gallant Men,' that will never be forgottenand you will never be forgotten," said Stratton's son, Randy. He was a communicant of St. Joseph's Church. Funeral services were Saturday, 10:00 am, February 29, 2020 at the Rocky Mountain Calvary Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado. 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. 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 United States Army. 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. Access all of our premium content, get unlimited digital access and more! He became active in survivors groups and worked with a historian to preserve the story. An Arizona crew that once numbered 1, 512 is now down to two. Numerous flags and people were lined along the route to honor the veteran as the motorcade passed through. 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. Legal Statement. 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 courage I saw in our men was astonishing," Stratton wrote in his 2016 book, "All the Gallant Men." Donald was born July 14, 1922 in Invale Nebraska and grew up in Red Cloud, Nebraska. He was one of the last living survivors of the USS Arizona during the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. "We are profoundly sad to say that last night, Feb. 15, USS Arizona Survivor Donald Stratton passed away peacefully in his sleep surrounded by his wife of nearly 70 years, Velma, and his son Randy, " Pearl Harbor National Memorial Daniel Martinez, chief historian for the memorial, said, "God bless him and his beloved family. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@newscred.com. Nikki Stratton Send Email, [fts_facebook type=page id=289485248175495 access_token=EAAP9hArvboQBAEi1R1HgHwQjvEYQNPEGpuPOABmjB9K4EBjkJe4hgR8vKFO73Y68qsB12SciZCXlQUKqM3Bo6j0aRaBTttEAZCTmmbAbnArwdMNWflcFJf4ojDXaid7TYrrnDXwP4IbFjzO9kuPtRRZBhNJF1fBwO7xY4aysvP6KidXpvYQGzElcSOgZCY4ZD posts=10 height=800px description=no posts_displayed=page_only]. In the 21st century, it's not just urns and gravestones anymore. His wife, Velma, and his son, Randy, were with him. Before George extended a lifeline to the men on the Arizona, he had been using an axe to cut the mooring lines. 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. Bored of the routine, he went into the commercial diving business, traveling the world. Stratton told his own story many times over the years. Velma passed away exactly three months to day Donald was buried as she couldnt be separated from her lifes long love. The fireball went about 60, 70 feet in the air.". The fireball that engulfed the Arizona lifted the ship over 50 feet out of the water before slamming back down to the sand below. 241 West 4th Avenue 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. Your email will not be used for any other purpose. Prior to his passing, Stratton was one of only three surviving USS Arizona crewmen. 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. In an incredible act of courage, Donald and fellow survivor Lauren Bruner were saved by a sailor named Joe George. But the flames found us, catching us all on fire, burning off our clothes, our hair, our skin.". You can unsubscribe at any time. He was 97. He quietly departed this life Saturday, February 15, 2020 in his Colorado Springs, CO home alongside his wife and son. A 1953 Boardman High School graduate, he married the former Mildred Guterba in February 1957 and shortly thereafter joined the US Army. Obituary BOARDMAN - Donald Allen Stratton, 86, of Poland, passed away on Thursday, November 25, 2021 at Mercy Health Center in Boardman surrounded by his family. Family and friends are coming together online to create a special keepsake. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. tomorrow in Sharer-Stirling Funeral Home with . Just over a year later, he found himself in the middle of the devastating Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Klaers is the CEO and president of The National WWII Aviation Museum. The attack left Stratton with burns over 60 percent of his body, costing him his fingerprints and leaving permanent scars. USS Arizona crew member and Pearl Harbor survivor Donald Stratton was honored with a memorial service Saturday morning in Colorado Springs. He also rebuilt Jeeps, Volkswagens, tractors, motorcycles and anything that had an engine. Donald J. The battleship shuddered as another explosion, the most powerfulyet, cracked its hull. . Even though Stratton lived in Colorado, and Landon lived in North Carolina, they developed a friendship. 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. 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. By early 1941, the Arizona had steamed down the coast and put in at Pearl Harbor. STRATTON, DONALD EUGENE STRATTON, Donald Eugene - Mt. Don also enjoyed spending time with family at their cabin in the Allegheny Mountains, which he helped build. The couple was married for 69 years where they travelled the world and grew a beautiful family. With his death, only two survivors remain from the last crew of the USS Arizona: Lou Conter, 98, of Grass Valley, California, and Ken Potts, 98, of Provo, Utah. "We got hit with the big bomb and that exploded like a million pounds of ammunition. If desired, contributions can be made to the American Heart Association, 444 Liberty Ave #1300, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. I said no, I wanted to go to sea, Stratton said. Mr. Stratton loved God, loved his country and loved his family. The average age of a Stratton family member is 72. The family also learned he was never honored for his bravery on December 7th. The family will receive visitors 3 - 6 P.M. Saturday, April. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, December 1, 2021, at 11:00 am at Mt. I looked over and seen the water tower go over. In 2016, he published a memoir, All the Gallant Men: An American Sailor's Firsthand Account of Pearl Harbor. After that, Randy said, he was done. In his dining room in Colorado Springs, he kept a replica of a diving helmet, the kind divers on his crew used. Search by Name. In the Army, you were crawling around in the mud and everything else, and I didnt want to do that.. free past performances 365 A year later, he reenlisted. Donald retired from the U.S. Air Force after more than 20 years. He would have died on that platform.. Joe George saved 6 lives that day, and was never awarded for his heroism until 76 years later. 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. In July 2017, Stratton, Bruner and Potts were invited to the White House, where they made their plea to President Donald Trump. However, on the morning of December 7th all that changed. 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. As the WWII B-25 circled around the funeral, on the ground, family and friends spoke, wearing Hawaiian shirts and our nation's colors. He met up with the Arizona while it was in dry dock in Bremerton Washington. To have people who pass trying to show respect is terrible.. He was 97. I love you and I hope you are enjoying making your shipmates laugh once again," Knestrick said. Donald and 5 others climbed hand over hand across the water all already burned, 70 feet including the slope up to the Vestal deck. Is comparing Colorado Springs' and Denver's homeless populations fair or unfair? Honoring the life and legacy of Donald Stratton - YouTube Over the weekend hundreds and thousands turned out throughout Colorado, Kansas, and Nebraska to honor the life and legacy of the late. Second to last was Lauren Bruner, a fire controlmanwho died in September. He saidGeorge threw them a lifeline from his own ship, which was moored next to the Arizona. 2023 Williams Funeral Homes. Pearl Harbor survivorDonald Stratton, seen here in a recent photo, died Saturday. 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. Family and friends are invited to visitwww.seederly-mongandbeck.comto sign the guestbook or send private condolences. A magnifying glass. One of Donalds final wishes was that people remember Pearl Harbor and the men aboard the USS Arizona, his wife Velma wrote on Facebook. All rights reserved. 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 &. Later in 2017, the Navy finally awarded George a posthumous Bronze Star with valor, an award many of his supporters said was long overdue. Helping USS Arizona Survivors and their Families. , Donald EUGENE - Mt the line to the burning Arizona High School graduate, he had been using axe... Photo, died Saturday sea, Stratton and Bruner lobbied for George to get a Navy or! Be held at 2 p.m. tomorrow in Sharer-Stirling funeral home with from above, nearby USS.... Men. never honored for his bravery on December 2, 2021 in Memphis,.! Flames found us, catching us all on fire, burning off clothes. 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