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.[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. Stratton was one of six men in the gun director who survived the initial attack. Two of the six died in hospital the evening of December 7.

Donald Stratton
Born(1922-07-14)July 14, 1922
Red Cloud, Nebraska, U.S.
DiedFebruary 15, 2020(2020-02-15) (aged 97)
Colorado Springs, Colorado, U.S.
Allegiance United States
Service/branch United States Navy
Battles/warsWorld War II

On June 8, 2018 in Colorado Springs, Colorado, a dedication ceremony took place to name the bridge for the newly constructed interchange at interstate 25 and Fillmore Street in honor of Donald G. Stratton.[4]

Works edit

  • Stratton, Donald; Gire, Ken (2016). All the Gallant Men: The First Memoir by a USS Arizona Survivor. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 9780062645357. OCLC 1066033026.

References edit

  1. ^ Silverman, Hollie (February 17, 2020). "Donald Stratton, a Pearl Harbor survivor and USS Arizona crew member, has died at 97". CNN. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
  2. ^ Prine, Carl (February 15, 2020). "USS Arizona survivor Donald Stratton dies at 97". Navy Times. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
  3. ^ McKinnon, Shaun (February 17, 2020). "'I've told my stories': One of the last survivors of the USS Arizona has died at 97". USA Today. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
  4. ^ "Donald Stratton Bridge Dedication". El Paso County, Colorado. June 13, 2018. Retrieved November 9, 2023.

External links edit