Meeting Donald Stratton

Before I continue the story, I’d like to take some space in this post to remember Donald G. Stratton. Today, February 15th, 2023 marks three years without Don. He was many things to many people, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and so many more. But to me he was my hero, and he was my friend. There are very few days that I don’t think of Donald and the impact he made on me and this world. I truly owe him for so many things that have happened in my life. He is the reason I decided to pursue history as a major. He is the reason I started A Hero’s Dream, Inc. He is the reason I started this blog, and the reason I have anything to write about in the first place. I have always had immense respect for the men and women who serve and have served our country. If I see a veteran I thank them for their service. I have expressed my thanks and appreciation to Don multiple times throughout our time together and his response was always the same. “Everyone had to be somewhere.” He was humble but wasn’t even trying to be. He simply meant exactly what he said. Don was a wonderful representation of The Greatest Generation. He was and will always be a hero. In honor of Don, I encourage and challenge all of you who read this to share his story with at least one person today. It’s so important we share his story and legacy so it is never forgotten.

And with that the story continues…

On November 21st, 2018 the oldest Pearl Harbor survivor, Ray Chavez passed at the age of 106. Ever since my trip I kept tabs on a couple of the survivors as I continued my research and Ray was one of them. The day he passed I happened to be researching, and I saw the articles announcing his death. I wanted to meet Ray Chavez so badly and was devastated when I found out I’d never get the chance to. In 2018, twenty-six Pearl Harbor survivors passed. Currently there are less than 2,000 survivors that remain from Pearl Harbor. In the next couple years there may not be any left. Ray Chavez’ passing was really hard on me even though I never got to meet him. It reminded me that these men were in their late 90s and early 100s. I worried I would never get the chance to meet any of them like I never got to meet Ray. Our last trip to Pearl Harbor, we called up to the Pearl Harbor memorial multiple times to see if any survivors were there, but we had no luck. When my Dad saw how Ray’s death affected me, he did what any parent would do, he turned to Facebook. He found a man by the name of Donald Stratton and messaged him to see if he was going to be anywhere that I would be able to meet him. Donald was not only a Pearl Harbor survivor, but he was stationed on the USS Arizona. The ship I was most interested in. My Dad hit the jackpot. I was so excited when my Dad told me we not only got a message back, but his granddaughter Nikki Stratton answered and invited us out to Colorado Springs, Colorado for a ceremony on the 77th Anniversary. I was so excited. I couldn’t stop talking about it leading up to that day. And I still haven’t stopped talking about it five years later. How could I ever stop talking about it? My dream came true. Friday, December 7th, 2018 I met Donald Stratton. The ceremony was held at the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum by the Navy League. My Dad and I got there so early and just walked around the museum before others started arriving. The room was on the second floor of the museum and the elevator was cool looking. It reminded me of the one from the movie Titanic. Right outside the room was a piece of the USS Arizona. It was the coolest thing. I put my purse and jacket down on the first row so I could see everything once the ceremony began. Then, Donald came into the room. I knew who he was the second he entered. He was the man whose picture I grabbed a year before in the gift shop. How crazy is that? A picture I randomly grabbed and it was him. I felt myself start to tear up because my dream was about to come true. We walked up to Donald, his son Randy, and of course the woman who made this all possible, his granddaughter Nikki. Nikki immediately hugged me and introduced me to her dad and grandfather. This moment I swear time stood still. I shook his hand, told him what an honor it was to meet him, and thanked him for his service. He then said his famous line, “everyone had to be somewhere.” My Dad and I brought him something from Texas that we thought best represented our state. Peanut Brittle and a Buc-ee's shirt. Nikki called us the next day and said the whole box was gone. I thought it was hilarious that a 96 year old man ate a whole box of peanut brittle in less than a day. Nikki then gave me something. She told me to hold my hands out and she opened a bag and poured something in my hands. I was confused what it was but then she explained. In my hands I held pieces from Donald’s battle station from the USS Arizona. I had already been crying because I had just met my hero, and when she told me what was in my hands, I cried even more. I felt so honored that she would give me something so important after just meeting me. When we got back I immediately ordered a clear locket and put the pieces into it. I wear it proudly. Meeting Donald was one of the best moments of my life. I am so grateful that I got the chance to meet him and to know him. I got him to sign my copy of his book, the picture I got from the gift shop, and a sailor hat I got from my first visit at Pearl Harbor that has “USS Arizona” on it. The ceremony then began. I learned so many new things about Pearl Harbor and the connection Colorado Springs had to it. During the ceremony I sat next to two women whose husbands were Pearl Harbor survivors but had recently passed. It was so wonderful to see that even after their husbands passing, they still attended this ceremony for them. That is love. After the ceremony I spent some more time taking pictures and talking to the Stratton family. Then I was approached by a couple reporters who wanted to interview me. I didn’t really understand why because I was fourteen, I wasn’t at Pearl Harbor. I hadn’t done anything amazing. I was just a kid meeting her hero. But what I didn’t realize at the time was I was the youngest in the room. I found out that day that my passion wasn’t shared with kids my age and especially girls my age. I knew no one around me found it as interesting as I did, but to find out I am one of very few, that was crazy to me. I thought there were just as many kids that were interested in Pearl Harbor and history as there were with anything else. I did the interviews and they just mostly asked why. Why am I here, why am I interested, why Donald Stratton. And I just told them why. I don’t quite understand why though. While I know where and when this passion started for me. I don’t know what in my brain told me that this was THE passion. I just know that something in my heart has always told me “this is it.” Meeting Donald was the catalyst. Here is an article that The Gazette wrote from that day.

The day I met him I posted on Instagram with a long caption. I am sharing what I said in this post because how better can I share what I was feeling in that moment than by sharing what 14 year old Brooke wrote at the time:

“Words cannot even express what today was like. I had the opportunity to meet Donald G. Stratton USS Arizona Survivor at Pearl Harbor. He made it out of the harbor with 65% of his body covered in burns, which put him

in excruciating pain. He didn’t give up there. He couldn’t just stay behind and do nothing after his medical discharge. He re-enlisted in the navy. He was denied. Then he eventually was let back in and finished the remainder of the war. His story is amazing and I recommend you read his book; All the Gallant Men. I was so very honored to meet Mr. Stratton and his family today. They have made a huge impact; one I certainly will never forget. Today was very emotional for me since it meant so much and I was able to share my story of how I was able to be there today. It was all because of Nikki. She made my dream come true and I c

ould never thank her and her father enough. I will however do whatever I can to make sure Donald Stratton’s story and others from WW2 and Pearl Harbor don’t get forgotten as the years go by. Don’t be the person who doesn’t thank a veteran for their service and doesn’t know what Pearl Harbor is. Educate other people so the stories don’t fade. Thank you Mr. Stratton for your service and thank you all Pearl Harbor veterans for your service 77 years ago. Those who lost their lives or family on that tragic day you will always be remembered. I will always remember Pearl Harbor and I promise my children will know your sacrifice and be grateful for it. December 7th, 1941, the day which will live in infamy, remember Pearl Harbor.”

Thank you Donald for the past five years. While I only knew you personally for two, you have continued to change my life despite not being on this earth. You may not be physically with us but you are forever in the hearts of the people you met. We miss you so much. A hui hou kākou Donald (until we meet again).