COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado, USA — One of the crew members of the ship USS Arizona that survived the attack on Pearl Harbor has died. He was 97. Donald Stratton died in his sleep saturday at his Colorado Springs residence, accompanied by his family. The veteran had had health problems since he contracted pneumonia last October.
“He was a very humble and secretive hero,” said his son Randy Stratton. “I didn’t want or seek the attention he received.” Stratton was one of the survivors of the Japanese airstrike on the U.S. Navy base at Pearl Harbor in Oahu, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941. More than 1,100 crew members died on the ship. Nearly 2,500 Americans were killed in that Japanese offensive, after which the United States entered World War II.” One of Donald’s last wishes was for people to remember Pearl Harbor and the men aboard the USS Arizona. Sharing their stories and never forgetting those who gave everything for our great country,” was posted on Stratton’s Facebook page.After his death, Lou Conter and Ken Potts are the last members still alive of the Arizona.Stratton crew attended many of the Pearl Harbor’s annual memorial ceremonies and wrote the best-selling book “All the Gallant Men.”
