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. COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. World War II veteran Donald Stratton was transported in a funeral procession from Colorado Springs, Colorado to Red Cloud, Nebraska on Saturday, Feb. 29. 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. This was their way out, hand over hand across 70 feet of ropeabove a burning oil slick. I said no, I wanted to go to sea, Stratton said. The motorcycle landed in the median. 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.". It indicates, "Click to perform a search". juniper vlan tagging vs trunking. 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. Funeral Home website by. His wife, Velma, and his son, Randy, were with him. Funeral Home website by. But to many, he was also a symbol of leadership and character. He quietly departed this life Saturday, February 15, 2020 in his Colorado Springs, CO home alongside his wife and son. 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 a faithful member of Mount Olivet United Church of Christ for over 60 years. What a great story that needs to be heard for many more years! He was born November 17, 1932 in Neosho, Missouri to Elbert Stratton and Olga Sanders-Stratton. Home / Articles / Donald Stratton, USS Arizona Survivor, Has Died. Stratton was second to go. No services are scheduled at this time. He is survived by his brother Willie and his son Randy Stratton (Kathy) and wife Velma. Bored of the routine, he went into the commercial diving business, traveling the world. The explosion lifted the ship out of the water. He was taken to a hospital. Morris MI went home October 6, 2014 in Kingwood, TX. To plant trees in memory, please visit the. 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. The bow sagged. IN LIEU OF FLOWERS.MEMORIALS ARE SUGGESTED TO THE "USS ARIZONA MEMORIAL FUND.". 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. Help tell the story of your loved ones unique life. The Arizona motored through the Pacific to the sandy beaches of Honolulu Hawaii and Pearl Harbor not bad for a flatlander from Nebraska. We can't let it happen again.. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, November 30, 2021 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at Mt. He wanted to be at home, Randy said. 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 Stratton men called and wrote letters, telling Georges story to anyone who would listen. Comfort the family with flowers or a sympathy gift. J James December 21, 2018 Many putting out fires on board their ships. "I threw a line over.". You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Saul-Gabauer Funeral Home & Sylvania Hills Memorial Park, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. to the family or plant a tree It would be the last time Donald set foot on the Memorial. An avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed hunting and fishing. Stratton told his own story many times over the years. 2023 Cappadona Funeral Home The Original Trusted Alternative Funeral Service. The war still raged in the Pacific. 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. 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 . Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. 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. "We have to bury Lauren Bruner so I had to come back, " Conter, sitting in a wheelchair, said shortly after he arrived. After WWII ended, he was 100% medically discharged and went on to work with deep sea divers and oil rigs offshore. Stratton finished breakfast and filled his white hat with oranges on his way to visit a buddy in sick bay. In the Army, you were crawling around in the mud and everything else, and I didnt want to do that.. Leave a sympathy message to the family on the memorial page of Donald Stratton to pay them a last tribute. williamsfuneralhomes@yahoo.com. 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. Proudly powered by WordPress | Theme: Fairy by Candid Themes. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Donald Stratton graduated from high school in 1940, a star athlete who needed work during hard times. 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. Donald Richard Stratton of Emory, Rains County, Texas was born on March 23, 1936. 2023 SCI SHARED RESOURCES, LLC. 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. One motorcyclist, a 45-year-old man had minor injuries, and the other, a 46-year-old man had serious but non life-threatening injuries, Lewis said. This image is an artists recreation of the burns Donald suffered during Pearl Harbor. As long as there be war, I must answer Am I worth dying for?. It was there he and Randy started their campaign to recognize Joe George, the sailor who threw the line to the burning Arizona. Stratton, 19, and several other men were in a metal box 70 feet off the water the port side anti-aircraft "director " where they were in danger of being cooked to death. 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. After spending over a year in the hospital recovering, Donald re-enlisted in the US Navy as WWII was still raging. Later in 2017, the Navy finally awarded George a posthumous Bronze Star with valor, an award many of his supporters said was long overdue. He quietly departed this life Saturday, February 15, 2020 in his Colorado Springs, CO home alongside his wife and son. He stopped at his locker, aft of the No. 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. 3 crashes, 2 deaths involving Donald Stratton funeral procession, By Debbie Kelley Food has always been a go-to for people in mourning. 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. 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. You can unsubscribe at any time. Mr. Stratton loved God, loved his country and loved his family. quest diagnostics 32791n. Men being strafed as they brought boxes of ammo up ladders to the antiaircraft guns. 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. Velma passed away exactly three months to day Donald was buried as she couldnt be separated from her lifes long love. Many Colorado Patriot Guard members only went as far as Limon, where other Patriot Guard riders took over the escort, he said. We would like to offer our sincere support to anyone coping with grief. 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. Olivet Church, and again on Wednesday, December 1, 2021 from 10:00 am until the time of the service. Donald was born March 18, 1935 in Boardman, a son of James Allen and Ruth (Craig) Stratton. In July 2017, Stratton, Bruner and Potts were invited to the White House, where they made their plea to President Donald Trump. Survivors of the Arizona can choose tohave their ashes interred in the sunken battleship in Pearl Harbor, but Stratton decided long ago he did not want that. Sharing his story had been a large part of Strattons life after surviving the attack and fighting throughout World War II. Access all of our premium content, get unlimited digital access and more! The crew learned to work the ships guns, the big ones and the smaller ones, firing at floating targets miles away. 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. "Plus all the others in all the other wars.". A friendship between the two began in 2016. Stratton and Lauren Bruner, another Arizona survivor, lobbied hard for George to be recognized. Donald Stratton was one of the last three remaining survivors of the USS Arizona. All rights reserved. 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. 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. 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. Your email will not be used for any other purpose. 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. 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. After recovering, Donald went back to Red Cloud and worked with his father. Services Sunday . For Stratton, Bruner and the four other men, salvation appeared in the form of Joe George, a sailor and boxer on the Vestal. Instead, heescaped the flames, recovered and went on to reenlist in the Navy, work in thecommercial diving businessand travel the world. Leave a memory or share a photo or video below to show your support. Back in 2016, Landon heard the veteran's story and made it a goal to meet him. The order had been given for the Vestal to cut loose from the Arizona and head for open water, Stratton said in his book. 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