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All the Gallant Men: An American Sailor's Firsthand Account of Pearl Harbor
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite History & Biography (2017)THE FIRST MEMOIR BY A USS
ARIZONA
SURVIVOR: Donald Stratton, one of the battleship's five living heroes, delivers a "powerful" and "intimate"* eyewitness account of Pearl Harbor and his unforgettable return to the fight
At 8:10 a.m. on December 7, 1941, Seaman First Class Donald Stratton was consumed by an inferno. A million pounds of explosives had detonated beneath his battle station aboard the USS Arizona, barely fifteen minutes into Japan’s surprise attack on American forces at Pearl Harbor. Near death and burned across two thirds of his body, Don, a nineteen-year-old Nebraskan who had been steeled by the Great Depression and Dust Bowl, summoned the will to haul himself hand over hand across a rope tethered to a neighboring vessel. Forty-five feet below, the harbor’s flaming, oil-slick water boiled with enemy bullets; all around him the world tore itself apart.
In this extraordinary, never-before-told eyewitness account of the Pearl Harbor attack—the only memoir ever written by a survivor of the USS Arizona—ninety-four-year-old veteran Donald Stratton finally shares his unforgettable personal tale of bravery and survival on December 7, 1941, his harrowing recovery, and his inspiring determination to return to the fight.
Don and four other sailors made it safely across the same line that morning, a small miracle on a day that claimed the lives of 1,177 of their Arizona shipmates—approximately half the American fatalaties at Pearl Harbor. Sent to military hospitals for a year, Don refused doctors’ advice to amputate his limbs and battled to relearn how to walk. The U.S. Navy gave him a medical discharge, believing he would never again be fit for service, but Don had unfinished business. In June 1944, he sailed back into the teeth of the Pacific War on a destroyer, destined for combat in the crucial battles of Leyte Gulf, Luzon, and Okinawa, thus earning the distinction of having been present for the opening shots and the final major battle of America’s Second World War.
As the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack approaches, Don, a great-grandfather of five and one of six living survivors of the Arizona, offers an unprecedentedly intimate reflection on the tragedy that drew America into the greatest armed conflict in history. All the Gallant Men is a book for the ages, one of the most remarkable—and remarkably inspiring—memoirs of any kind to appear in recent years.
*Library Journal
At 8:10 a.m. on December 7, 1941, Seaman First Class Donald Stratton was consumed by an inferno. A million pounds of explosives had detonated beneath his battle station aboard the USS Arizona, barely fifteen minutes into Japan’s surprise attack on American forces at Pearl Harbor. Near death and burned across two thirds of his body, Don, a nineteen-year-old Nebraskan who had been steeled by the Great Depression and Dust Bowl, summoned the will to haul himself hand over hand across a rope tethered to a neighboring vessel. Forty-five feet below, the harbor’s flaming, oil-slick water boiled with enemy bullets; all around him the world tore itself apart.
In this extraordinary, never-before-told eyewitness account of the Pearl Harbor attack—the only memoir ever written by a survivor of the USS Arizona—ninety-four-year-old veteran Donald Stratton finally shares his unforgettable personal tale of bravery and survival on December 7, 1941, his harrowing recovery, and his inspiring determination to return to the fight.
Don and four other sailors made it safely across the same line that morning, a small miracle on a day that claimed the lives of 1,177 of their Arizona shipmates—approximately half the American fatalaties at Pearl Harbor. Sent to military hospitals for a year, Don refused doctors’ advice to amputate his limbs and battled to relearn how to walk. The U.S. Navy gave him a medical discharge, believing he would never again be fit for service, but Don had unfinished business. In June 1944, he sailed back into the teeth of the Pacific War on a destroyer, destined for combat in the crucial battles of Leyte Gulf, Luzon, and Okinawa, thus earning the distinction of having been present for the opening shots and the final major battle of America’s Second World War.
As the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack approaches, Don, a great-grandfather of five and one of six living survivors of the Arizona, offers an unprecedentedly intimate reflection on the tragedy that drew America into the greatest armed conflict in history. All the Gallant Men is a book for the ages, one of the most remarkable—and remarkably inspiring—memoirs of any kind to appear in recent years.
*Library Journal
320 pages, ebook
First published November 22, 2016
449 people are currently reading
6441 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 675 reviews
May 2, 2023
I finished this book last night, the eve the 75th anniversary. I don't know where to begin a review of this book. So I think a small quote from page 109 will say it all.
"Dear Lord,
Lest I continue
My complacent way,
Help me to remember that somewhere,
Somehow out there
A man died for me today.
As long as there be war,
must answer
Am I worth dying for?"
Update 12/8/18
I read in this mornings paper. Yesterday for the first time, there were no survivors present from the USS Arizona for the 77th anniversary of the attack. The five remaining survivors, Lauren Bruner, 98, Lou Conter, 97, Lonnie Cook, 98, Ken Potts, 97 and Donald Stratton, 97 were unable to travel to Oahu this year. Thank you for your service and the world I grew up in.
Thank you Mr Stratton
I write this with tears. I read in the paper this morning the Donald Stratton died Saturday 2/15/2020. Lou Conter and Ken Potts are the last survivors of the U.S.S. Arizona. I again thank all WWII Veterans for the world that I grew up in. Thank you.
Again with tears, I read in this mornings paper that Ken Potts passed on 4-21-2023. He is survived his wife, Doris. Lou Conter is the last survivor of the Arizona. Once again I’m thankful to that generation for the world I grew up in, thank you.
"Dear Lord,
Lest I continue
My complacent way,
Help me to remember that somewhere,
Somehow out there
A man died for me today.
As long as there be war,
must answer
Am I worth dying for?"
Update 12/8/18
I read in this mornings paper. Yesterday for the first time, there were no survivors present from the USS Arizona for the 77th anniversary of the attack. The five remaining survivors, Lauren Bruner, 98, Lou Conter, 97, Lonnie Cook, 98, Ken Potts, 97 and Donald Stratton, 97 were unable to travel to Oahu this year. Thank you for your service and the world I grew up in.
Thank you Mr Stratton
I write this with tears. I read in the paper this morning the Donald Stratton died Saturday 2/15/2020. Lou Conter and Ken Potts are the last survivors of the U.S.S. Arizona. I again thank all WWII Veterans for the world that I grew up in. Thank you.
Again with tears, I read in this mornings paper that Ken Potts passed on 4-21-2023. He is survived his wife, Doris. Lou Conter is the last survivor of the Arizona. Once again I’m thankful to that generation for the world I grew up in, thank you.
December 1, 2016
Wow!
This is the greatest non fiction book that I have ever read. From the beginning to the end it will grab your heart and move you to tears. I had to read awhile and put it down to dry tears and then pick it up again only to dry tears again. This sailor allows you into the most precious part of him to read what happened that December morning in Pearl harbor and brings the terror of the attack and the loss of so many gallant men into your life. My father served in the Pacific during World War II and I personally thank this sailor for his story. It truly allows us to see what happened during that War. Thank you Sir for sharing your story and your gallant life with me and the other numerous readers. Your bravery and the bravery of all those that day are truly standards that were set and that we can hope to meet. Extremely well written and very moving. Again thank you for sharing this story with us. God Bless you and your family and thank you again for your brave and gallant service.
This is the greatest non fiction book that I have ever read. From the beginning to the end it will grab your heart and move you to tears. I had to read awhile and put it down to dry tears and then pick it up again only to dry tears again. This sailor allows you into the most precious part of him to read what happened that December morning in Pearl harbor and brings the terror of the attack and the loss of so many gallant men into your life. My father served in the Pacific during World War II and I personally thank this sailor for his story. It truly allows us to see what happened during that War. Thank you Sir for sharing your story and your gallant life with me and the other numerous readers. Your bravery and the bravery of all those that day are truly standards that were set and that we can hope to meet. Extremely well written and very moving. Again thank you for sharing this story with us. God Bless you and your family and thank you again for your brave and gallant service.
December 3, 2016
What an amazing man and story. When I got to the end and found out he lives in Colorado Springs I emailed my dad (who also lives in the Springs). We are going to visit in August and I would like to buy this man a meal.
February 15, 2022
Brilliant
As a military officer, I stand and salute this book. It tells the story of the brave who gave their lives at Pearl Harbor.
What is special is that it is told through the experiences of a survivor.
May we be a people of peace and never attack or be attacked in the future.
As a military officer, I stand and salute this book. It tells the story of the brave who gave their lives at Pearl Harbor.
What is special is that it is told through the experiences of a survivor.
May we be a people of peace and never attack or be attacked in the future.
April 6, 2025
There are some books that we enjoy reading, and there are some books that make us a little better having read them. This is one of the latter. It was an honor to read Don Stratton's story.
He spends enough time on the horrors of Pearl Harbor to share his involvement and snippets of the memories he holds from that day and the ensuing war afterwards. But largely this book shares the heart of a man who had great respect for life and for his country. The call for us to remember those who have sacrificed everything for our freedom rings loud and clear, and to keep history as an important aspect of our lives so that the atrocities that mankind inflicts on each other will not be forgotten or repeated.
I highly encourage anyone to read this book. It is honest, humble, and brave.
He spends enough time on the horrors of Pearl Harbor to share his involvement and snippets of the memories he holds from that day and the ensuing war afterwards. But largely this book shares the heart of a man who had great respect for life and for his country. The call for us to remember those who have sacrificed everything for our freedom rings loud and clear, and to keep history as an important aspect of our lives so that the atrocities that mankind inflicts on each other will not be forgotten or repeated.
I highly encourage anyone to read this book. It is honest, humble, and brave.
December 11, 2016
The memories of a patriot, a war hero, and a great American. If you rate this book anything less than 5 stars you need to have your head examined. Robert Walker
December 22, 2017
5.0 I am glad I read this book on so many levels. It may have been absolutely gutt-wrenching and unbelievably hard to read, but it is such an important book. I will never ever think of December 7th the same ever again. I felt honored to have heard Donald Stratton's story and only wish the story of so many of the young men whose lives were lost that day could also be told. I really appreciated Don Stratton's honesty, humility, love for his lost shipmates and his self-reflective nature. His question in the face of the guilt of living while others died, "Have I led a good life" is one that hopefully everyone asks themselves as well..
May 11, 2024
“All The Gallant Men” is the first hand account of Donald Stratton, a survivor of the infamous attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941. There’s something so visceral about his writing style that plunges you into the heart of the tragedy and the immediacy of the events that unfolded that day. He grabs your attention and keeps it throughout.
The book begins with a brief glimpse of what happened on that fateful day, it talks briefly about his childhood and entry into the Navy, then a detailed look at the attack from his perspective as a witness and survivor, and much more. There’s something poetic and yet direct about how he tells his story. You feel like you’re sitting on a rocking chair with your grandfather and he finally opens up about his past to you. One feels a sense of importance in listening to his words and really paying attention to it.
He not only talks about his own story, but also talks about other young men on the ship that day and paints their lives in such a way that they really come alive. In fact, through that exercise, the entire incident feels more alive, more real, and more tragic than I’d ever felt about it while hearing about it in the past. Some of the details of the men dying all around him and the severe burns he suffered really paint just a brutal reality.
He talks about the years after the event while the war was going on, his year of recovery in the hospital, finally returning home but feeling a lack of purpose and returning to the Navy, fighting in fierce battles like at Okinawa, but also a heart wrenching look at how all of this affected him psychologically for the rest of his life like the questions that never went away, the survivor’s guilt, the anger, etc. He focuses also on the lessons to take away from Pearl Harbor, whether militarily, or introspectively as human beings.
He does talk very briefly about the rest of his life but the story remains relatively short and focused overall on the event in question and its aftermath so it never feels bogged down or self indulgent. Reading this reminded me how important it is from time to time to read about events like this and remember them, so hopefully history doesn’t repeat itself, and also to give context on why things are the way they are today.
After I finished, I looked up images and videos of him speaking and felt a genuine emotional pull. I’m really glad he told his story. It deserves to be told.
The book begins with a brief glimpse of what happened on that fateful day, it talks briefly about his childhood and entry into the Navy, then a detailed look at the attack from his perspective as a witness and survivor, and much more. There’s something poetic and yet direct about how he tells his story. You feel like you’re sitting on a rocking chair with your grandfather and he finally opens up about his past to you. One feels a sense of importance in listening to his words and really paying attention to it.
He not only talks about his own story, but also talks about other young men on the ship that day and paints their lives in such a way that they really come alive. In fact, through that exercise, the entire incident feels more alive, more real, and more tragic than I’d ever felt about it while hearing about it in the past. Some of the details of the men dying all around him and the severe burns he suffered really paint just a brutal reality.
He talks about the years after the event while the war was going on, his year of recovery in the hospital, finally returning home but feeling a lack of purpose and returning to the Navy, fighting in fierce battles like at Okinawa, but also a heart wrenching look at how all of this affected him psychologically for the rest of his life like the questions that never went away, the survivor’s guilt, the anger, etc. He focuses also on the lessons to take away from Pearl Harbor, whether militarily, or introspectively as human beings.
He does talk very briefly about the rest of his life but the story remains relatively short and focused overall on the event in question and its aftermath so it never feels bogged down or self indulgent. Reading this reminded me how important it is from time to time to read about events like this and remember them, so hopefully history doesn’t repeat itself, and also to give context on why things are the way they are today.
After I finished, I looked up images and videos of him speaking and felt a genuine emotional pull. I’m really glad he told his story. It deserves to be told.
March 23, 2020
On my trip to Hawaii last month, I had the privilege of being able to visit Pearl Harbor and spend a few unforgettable hours there. It is a place I wish everyone could visit. I was not prepared for how moved I would be standing at the memorial of the USS Arizona, touring the submarine, USS Bowfin, and walking through the numerous museums on site. Such a powerful reminder of what others sacrificed for the fredoms we now have. I went into the gift shop and for some reason, this book immediately caught my eye. There were literally dozens of books about survivors of December 7, 1941, for some reason I kept coming back to this book - a memoir of USS Arizona survivor, Donald Stratton. I brought it home with me and immediately gave it to my dad to read. His review of the book in an email to me, brought tears to my eyes, and I knew I had to put down what I was currently reading and pick it up. I’m not sorry I did. What an amazing tale of heroism, survival, and forgiveness. Donald Stratton, an amazing man, who lived 98 years before passing away in February, 2020.
On December 7, 1941, after the USS Arizona was hit, Donald and four others made it safely across a rope tied to another ship - a miracle on a day that claimed the lives of 1,177 of their shipmates. He was burned on over thirty percent of his body and spent a year in military hospitals recovering. He refused doctors’ advice to amputate his limbs and eventually learned to walk again. He was given a medical discharge, but he had unfinished business for his country, and in June 1944, he re-entered the Navy, and was stationed aboard a destroyer, which was destined for combat in the crucial battles of the Pacific.
What I loved most about the book was Donald’s insight into his battle for forgiveness of those who had taken so much from him. He recounts how at the 25th anniversary of Pearl Harbor, Captain Mitsuo Fuchida, who commanded the first wave of Japanese planes and photographed it so he could document the defeat of the US Navy, but who later in life found God and became a traveling evangelist, also came to the memorial and how he struggled with his feelings and anger toward Fuchida, and how he could not bring himself to shake his hand. He also broached the subject of the bombing of Hiroshima and talked about how the US military put out countless leaflets warning residents to evacuate the area (of which I had no idea). What he said struck me to the core ... “Even if you believe America shouldn’t have used the atomic bomb on Japan, you should know that we tried nearly everything, so we would not have to use it. It was a reluctant last resort. One more thing you should know ... None of us at Pearl Harbor got leaflets like that from the Japanese.”
I could go on and on about the nuggets of wisdom I gleaned from this book, but I will simply end this by saying that one of my reading goals for 2020 is to read more memoirs because every time I read one, I learn so much that I can apply to my own life, and All Of The Gallant Men only reaffirms my resolve. I cannot recommend this book highly enough! As George Santayana said, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." All the stars for this incredibly moving read.
On December 7, 1941, after the USS Arizona was hit, Donald and four others made it safely across a rope tied to another ship - a miracle on a day that claimed the lives of 1,177 of their shipmates. He was burned on over thirty percent of his body and spent a year in military hospitals recovering. He refused doctors’ advice to amputate his limbs and eventually learned to walk again. He was given a medical discharge, but he had unfinished business for his country, and in June 1944, he re-entered the Navy, and was stationed aboard a destroyer, which was destined for combat in the crucial battles of the Pacific.
What I loved most about the book was Donald’s insight into his battle for forgiveness of those who had taken so much from him. He recounts how at the 25th anniversary of Pearl Harbor, Captain Mitsuo Fuchida, who commanded the first wave of Japanese planes and photographed it so he could document the defeat of the US Navy, but who later in life found God and became a traveling evangelist, also came to the memorial and how he struggled with his feelings and anger toward Fuchida, and how he could not bring himself to shake his hand. He also broached the subject of the bombing of Hiroshima and talked about how the US military put out countless leaflets warning residents to evacuate the area (of which I had no idea). What he said struck me to the core ... “Even if you believe America shouldn’t have used the atomic bomb on Japan, you should know that we tried nearly everything, so we would not have to use it. It was a reluctant last resort. One more thing you should know ... None of us at Pearl Harbor got leaflets like that from the Japanese.”
I could go on and on about the nuggets of wisdom I gleaned from this book, but I will simply end this by saying that one of my reading goals for 2020 is to read more memoirs because every time I read one, I learn so much that I can apply to my own life, and All Of The Gallant Men only reaffirms my resolve. I cannot recommend this book highly enough! As George Santayana said, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." All the stars for this incredibly moving read.
December 1, 2017
What a poignant, well written book. My high rating, I know, is in part emotional. My grandfathers brother was killed in Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941. He was one of the only two soldiers killed on the USS Helena. He was taking position at his battle station when he was killed instantly by shrapnel. I wish I had known him; the gallant man from my family. Reading about others and the horror they experienced makes my heart ache for what he had to endure and for my missed opportunity, in this life, to have a relationship with my great-uncle and to see the man he was growing up to be.
This story hits on every point just enough not to bog down the overall powerful message with minute details. But what keeps coming to my mind, even after finishing, is the message Eleanor Roosevelt kept in her wallet from the rest of her life following the attacks on Pearl Harbor. It's entitled "Wartime Prayer." Dear Lord,. Lest I continue. My complacent way, Help me to remember that somewhere, Somehow out there. A man died for me today. As long as there be war, I then must. Ask and answer. Am I worth dying for?
That last sentence, "am I worth dying for" makes me want to be a better person. It makes me want to always remember the sacrifice so many have made, and continue to make, so that I may enjoy the freedoms I take for granted daily. I'm grateful to the gallant men of World War 1, my uncle, and this beautiful tribute on their behalf.
This story hits on every point just enough not to bog down the overall powerful message with minute details. But what keeps coming to my mind, even after finishing, is the message Eleanor Roosevelt kept in her wallet from the rest of her life following the attacks on Pearl Harbor. It's entitled "Wartime Prayer." Dear Lord,. Lest I continue. My complacent way, Help me to remember that somewhere, Somehow out there. A man died for me today. As long as there be war, I then must. Ask and answer. Am I worth dying for?
That last sentence, "am I worth dying for" makes me want to be a better person. It makes me want to always remember the sacrifice so many have made, and continue to make, so that I may enjoy the freedoms I take for granted daily. I'm grateful to the gallant men of World War 1, my uncle, and this beautiful tribute on their behalf.
December 5, 2016
A love story. A sailor and his ship. The Arizona.
Possably the best book I have ever read. Just the right length and not alot of flowery descriptions.. Just the facts and such an emotional feel to Donald Stratton. Loved it and cried thru most of it. I feel that I am well acquainted with Donald Stratton.. Absolutely loved every page.
Possably the best book I have ever read. Just the right length and not alot of flowery descriptions.. Just the facts and such an emotional feel to Donald Stratton. Loved it and cried thru most of it. I feel that I am well acquainted with Donald Stratton.. Absolutely loved every page.
April 21, 2017
Raw emotion
I felt this memoir. It got to me. I could make out the scenes in my mind. The descriptions were palpable. The history rich with sorrow. So sad for the few young people that lived with the horrors of Pearl Harbor etched in their minds. I learned so much from these pages. Humbling. "Have I lived a good life?"
I felt this memoir. It got to me. I could make out the scenes in my mind. The descriptions were palpable. The history rich with sorrow. So sad for the few young people that lived with the horrors of Pearl Harbor etched in their minds. I learned so much from these pages. Humbling. "Have I lived a good life?"
August 29, 2025
Riveting. True story. Survived bombing of USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941.
Complete with analysis at end.
Very easy to read, well-written.
Gift from my retired Navy brother. 👍🏻⚓️
Complete with analysis at end.
Very easy to read, well-written.
Gift from my retired Navy brother. 👍🏻⚓️
March 12, 2024
Such a poignant memoir. Thank God for people like Donald Stratton. This book and his life will stay in my heart forever.
February 4, 2017
I wanted to give it a 4, but the writing style jumped and although the time frames were linear, it was difficult to context his life as a whole, IMHO. Not that you didn't get to know Donald and his heroic experiences. And I give him utmost credit for his honesty, credibility to facts and detail, and all his loyalties to service. It was a 3.5 star at least, but I could not round it up because I took it up and down so much. The continuity? Transitions of context were lacking, with some gaps in periods I would have been interested in, with more detail. And in repetition for other periods.
It's a hard, hard story to hear. Especially when he described the kamikaze attacks at the end of the war and what absolute target sailors were on the ships. Night, day, storm whatever- you never knew, there was no "let down". Amazing and beyond valor that he was in at the very beginning of WWII and the very end battle also.
This would be an exceptional read for those who have little knowledge of WWII apart from Europe, the Arizona's story itself, or the Japanese front desperation and cost of lives in the Pacific Theater before the bomb was dropped.
This was a era in which the type of hero who was a purely "common" man like Donald WAS common in vast numbers. No more. That level of sacrifice is rarer now than it ever was. Individual self-involvement reigns.
It's a hard, hard story to hear. Especially when he described the kamikaze attacks at the end of the war and what absolute target sailors were on the ships. Night, day, storm whatever- you never knew, there was no "let down". Amazing and beyond valor that he was in at the very beginning of WWII and the very end battle also.
This would be an exceptional read for those who have little knowledge of WWII apart from Europe, the Arizona's story itself, or the Japanese front desperation and cost of lives in the Pacific Theater before the bomb was dropped.
This was a era in which the type of hero who was a purely "common" man like Donald WAS common in vast numbers. No more. That level of sacrifice is rarer now than it ever was. Individual self-involvement reigns.
May 11, 2017
Exceeds expectations.
The writing was good. The voice was clear. I learned so much from it. The telling of the events of Pearl Harbor and afterwards was so matter of fact. The narrative was not colored in emotional language the way things like this often are. You only see glimpses of Stratton's emotions peeking through until the end where he opens up more. You could see how deeply buried the events of Pearl Harbor and the war were buried inside him, how he was never the same after that day. And how could you be?
Stratton's story made me think of things in a way I never had before. For instance, how when a person's life is stolen from them we not only lose a life but also his or her future, potential, and the children and family that could have been. Likewise, when a life is saved it impacts the present and also the future in a big way. It was touching how Stratton looked forward to meeting the daughter of the man who saved him and introducing his children and grandchildren to her so that she could see the future that her father created.
Stratton also highlighted the idea of living ones life in such a way that it is worth the sacrifices that made it possible. He strove to live a worthy life because he was saved when so many were not. It would likely be a better world if we all did the same and made our lives worth the very dear price that was paid for them.
The writing was good. The voice was clear. I learned so much from it. The telling of the events of Pearl Harbor and afterwards was so matter of fact. The narrative was not colored in emotional language the way things like this often are. You only see glimpses of Stratton's emotions peeking through until the end where he opens up more. You could see how deeply buried the events of Pearl Harbor and the war were buried inside him, how he was never the same after that day. And how could you be?
Stratton's story made me think of things in a way I never had before. For instance, how when a person's life is stolen from them we not only lose a life but also his or her future, potential, and the children and family that could have been. Likewise, when a life is saved it impacts the present and also the future in a big way. It was touching how Stratton looked forward to meeting the daughter of the man who saved him and introducing his children and grandchildren to her so that she could see the future that her father created.
Stratton also highlighted the idea of living ones life in such a way that it is worth the sacrifices that made it possible. He strove to live a worthy life because he was saved when so many were not. It would likely be a better world if we all did the same and made our lives worth the very dear price that was paid for them.
December 16, 2017
Never having read anything about WWII and generally disliking books on military history, I found this book honest and idealistic. It was a fascinating glimpse of the sinking of the USS Arizona and the men who either went down with it or survived. I was impressed with the sense of honor of sailors mentioned in the book.
July 7, 2022
"in an hour, boys had become men, and men, heroes."
While I cannot truly begin to imagine how horrifying it must have been to watch one of the most devastating attacks in history unfold before my eyes, the vivid writing style really brought to life the experiences of Don Stratton, and allowed me to feel his emotions of anger, patriotism, and courage through his words, leaving me with a strong sense of reverence for all those who have fought in the war.
This book goes into details about the HUMAN aspect of war and discusses the perspectives of families who lost their sons at sea as well as the collective effort of people from different walks of life to come together and contribute to help strengthen America under FDR's leadership. I think that this human aspect is one that we do not usually see in documentaries etc (which often focus on facts and numbers) and reading about the war from this perspective is really important for us in order to remember to not take the freedom we have today for granted.
While I cannot truly begin to imagine how horrifying it must have been to watch one of the most devastating attacks in history unfold before my eyes, the vivid writing style really brought to life the experiences of Don Stratton, and allowed me to feel his emotions of anger, patriotism, and courage through his words, leaving me with a strong sense of reverence for all those who have fought in the war.
This book goes into details about the HUMAN aspect of war and discusses the perspectives of families who lost their sons at sea as well as the collective effort of people from different walks of life to come together and contribute to help strengthen America under FDR's leadership. I think that this human aspect is one that we do not usually see in documentaries etc (which often focus on facts and numbers) and reading about the war from this perspective is really important for us in order to remember to not take the freedom we have today for granted.
January 24, 2020
Wow. This book was fascinating. Horrifying. Historical. Biographical. The author and writer did a great job verifying facts, gathering photos and information, and getting the book published for the 75th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
Donald Stratton was one of only 335 sailors who survived the bombing of the USS Arizona that day. One of five who were still alive 75 years later.
I learned so much from this book. My husband bought it last week when we visited the memorial at Pearl Harbor. So much history on this beautiful Hawaiian island of Oahu.
They truly were the greatest generation—military and civilians. Americans.
Donald Stratton was one of only 335 sailors who survived the bombing of the USS Arizona that day. One of five who were still alive 75 years later.
I learned so much from this book. My husband bought it last week when we visited the memorial at Pearl Harbor. So much history on this beautiful Hawaiian island of Oahu.
They truly were the greatest generation—military and civilians. Americans.
March 14, 2021
This story from the inside will be a rich read to anyone wanting to know more about Pearl Harbor. For all the mistakes that were made by U.S. military that allowed this attack to go to fruition, I am so impressed with America's ability to bounce back to rebuild its Navy. But the heart of this story is the extreme sacrifice, heroism, suffering, and death toll. To hear this in the words of one who barely survived it is to experience one morning of hell on Earth. Correction, make that years of hell on Earth.
September 6, 2021
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Donald Stratton, a Nebraska farm boy, was at Pearl Harbour on December 7, 1941, on the USS Arizona and his account of that day and his other WW2 service (including Okinawa, book-ending campaigns of the Pacific War) and his tributes to the shipmates he lost that day, and thoughts on both the war and Japan are fascinating. A wonderful piece of writing, showing the real human side of one of the most fateful days in history. What he went through...jaw-dropping. A stunning memoir.
December 8, 2024
Finished and am writing this review on the 83rd anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. It's truly incredible what these men went through and suffered. May December 7th never be forgotten.
On a side note, I've never had any desire to go to Hawaii, but after listening to this book, I would love to go and see the memorial to the USS Arizona. Would also recommend listening to Mike Rowe's podcast "The Way I Heard It" Episode 417, Donald Stratton's grandaughter is a guest on it, and I learned even more.
On a side note, I've never had any desire to go to Hawaii, but after listening to this book, I would love to go and see the memorial to the USS Arizona. Would also recommend listening to Mike Rowe's podcast "The Way I Heard It" Episode 417, Donald Stratton's grandaughter is a guest on it, and I learned even more.
September 9, 2018
He tells of the frustration and heartbreak that his family and others went through as they waited to know if their sons were returning. I empathized every moment.
The audio was wonderful. I imagined the narrator (Mike Ortego) to be Don Stratton himself. He sounded so conversational, as if he was speaking directly to me.
What I was not aware of was that Commander Mitsuo Fuchida - who led the attack on PH, had become a farmer in Japan and did not like being forgotten. He decided to become a Christian Evangelist. I am sure to get rich in addition to being in the limelight again. At one point he came to the US, with a few Zero pilots still living, to the Arizona Memorial. He brought a film crew and wanted to film the Arizona survivors and the Japanese pilots shaking hands! Don was there and was asked if he would participate (he declined of course)…. his response was wonderful (he wanted to say a few choice words but didn't). And so were a few other comments made by others.
There is so much in this book besides that horrendous day. The lives he noticed around him during that time, Don’s time in the burn units, his re-enlistment and most important, his thoughts.
I noticed a FB page just for him, (I signed up) and a WWII’s Foundation DVD about Joe George who risked his life and went against orders to save a few lives. “Lifeline Pearl Harbor’s Unknown Hero”.
The audio was wonderful. I imagined the narrator (Mike Ortego) to be Don Stratton himself. He sounded so conversational, as if he was speaking directly to me.
What I was not aware of was that Commander Mitsuo Fuchida - who led the attack on PH, had become a farmer in Japan and did not like being forgotten. He decided to become a Christian Evangelist. I am sure to get rich in addition to being in the limelight again. At one point he came to the US, with a few Zero pilots still living, to the Arizona Memorial. He brought a film crew and wanted to film the Arizona survivors and the Japanese pilots shaking hands! Don was there and was asked if he would participate (he declined of course)…. his response was wonderful (he wanted to say a few choice words but didn't). And so were a few other comments made by others.
There is so much in this book besides that horrendous day. The lives he noticed around him during that time, Don’s time in the burn units, his re-enlistment and most important, his thoughts.
I noticed a FB page just for him, (I signed up) and a WWII’s Foundation DVD about Joe George who risked his life and went against orders to save a few lives. “Lifeline Pearl Harbor’s Unknown Hero”.
December 7, 2017
What an incredible story. One of the few remaining survivors of WWII tells his story as one of the even fewer remaining survivors of Pearl Harbor. Stratton was aboard the USS Arizona, where nearly half of the deaths on that day came from. He tells a remarkable history of remarkable people making remarkable choices, including himself as far as any reader is concerned. I struggled to get through this short book because I had to keep setting it aside due to emotions. No crying on the gym treadmill, or in the car right before walking in to work, etc! This is easily recommendable.
November 25, 2016
This book is a great combination of author and sailor who survived the sinking of the USS Arizona at Hawaii of December 7, 1941 driving the US into World War II. Donald Stratton was a teenager living in Nebraska on that fatal day, he was born and raised in Nebraska, his parents poor as will be described by the author. Stratton is 96 years of age now, there are but 5 members of the crew of the Arizona remaining but he has a great memory and as he tells all early in the book during discussions with the other 4 survivors and their memoirs was able to put this book together. One can't really say much as most have probably read books or studied in school about these events, even so I highly recommend everyone read it.
December 7, 2016
Finishing this book on the 75th anniversary of Pearl Harbor, I wanted to LOVE it. Unfortunately, it is just okay.
I was hoping for a more personal memoir, such as UNBROKEN, but found the first 85% of this work to be a history lesson. Don Stratton is finally shown in a more personal way for the last 15% of the book, but I almost didn't make it there.
Mr. Stratton is a man to be admired as a hero, but this writing was highly inspirational. I blame part of that on the actual writer, Ken Girl. Some of the blame must fall on the publisher for rushing a mediocre book to market to coincide with the 75th anniversary. More time devoted to the fleshing out of this book might have led to a more satisfying read.
I was hoping for a more personal memoir, such as UNBROKEN, but found the first 85% of this work to be a history lesson. Don Stratton is finally shown in a more personal way for the last 15% of the book, but I almost didn't make it there.
Mr. Stratton is a man to be admired as a hero, but this writing was highly inspirational. I blame part of that on the actual writer, Ken Girl. Some of the blame must fall on the publisher for rushing a mediocre book to market to coincide with the 75th anniversary. More time devoted to the fleshing out of this book might have led to a more satisfying read.
April 18, 2020
Brief, moving memoir focusing on an account of the attack on Pearl Harbor by one of the last living survivors of the ARIZONA. The book was everything I hoped it would be and more. I learned that the ship had collided with OKLAHOMA in late November and was consequently in port at Pearl instead of in a shipyard in Bremerton, WA for a scheduled overhaul on December 7, 1941. Donald Stratton endured burns over 70% of his body and, after mostly recovering from his injuries, actually reenlisted and served on the USS STACK (DD-406) through the invasion of Okinawa. It's powerful to be reminded in such a personal way how much we owe to the World War II generation.
December 5, 2016
An excellent read by a man who lived through Pearl Harbor! A 'gallant' man who felt we should hear his story! I am so glad he was brave enough to share it! Thanks for serving and now for sharing! I definitely understand the difference between brave heroes and gallant men, of which you most certainly are of the gallant variety!
December 2, 2016
I have ready many books that deal with this period in history, having a first person account makes it all the more real, very touching. The author's hope for forgiveness in the kingdom to come shows such true humanity.
April 28, 2017
Nothing tells a story better than someone who was there. Mr. Stratton's story should be a must read in every school.
Perhaps his sacrifice and service will inspire others...it certainly did for me
Perhaps his sacrifice and service will inspire others...it certainly did for me
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