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Pearl Harbor 75th Anniversary; All The Gallant Men - survivor's memoir
Topic Started: Dec 7 2016, 04:52 AM (291 Views)
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Today marks the 75th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. I've always had a love of history and remember when September 11th happened all the comparisons to Pearl Harbor. I love the movie Pearl Harbor and can't imagine what those that were there went through.

So on today's 75th anniversary, I thought I'd shamelessly plug a new book about the attack on the USS Arizona. It's the first and only memoir from one of the survivors of the USS Arizona, Donald Stratton. My uncle, Ken Gire, wrote the book with him, based on his account as told to him. Full disclosure I haven't read it yet as I just got it yesterday, but knowing his other books, I'm really looking forward to reading it. Donald Stratton was in one of the gun towers and received burns to 65% of his body and managed to pull himself off the ship to safety. After a year of recovery, he reenlisted to go back and fight in the war. I can't imagine anyone doing that today, but then again I can't imagine a war like World War II today.

So on today's anniversary, let me just say how grateful I am to everyone that has fought and died for this country. I hope the lessons we learned as a country are ones we don't forget.

Here is a link to an excerpt from the book:

http://parade.com/518852/parade/grit-and-gallantry-an-excerpt-from-a-pearl-harbor-survivors-memoir/

And here is a video interviewing Donald Stratton about his experiences:



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daniel60
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I'm grateful too Ben. That's cool your uncle has penned a book.
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juantoo3
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wow.
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Hobie-wan
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Awful and awesome at the same time. Thanks to Dnald for serving valiantly, sharing his story, and your uncle for helping share it.
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W Gee
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double WOW, I've looked into getting the book ! I want to read it. Pass on my appreciation please
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webestang64
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I'd like to read that book as well. God bless all the troops.
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Milton Fox Racing
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pjedsel
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Wow! Thank you for sharing that excerpt with us Ben - one cannot even imagine what those men experienced except through first hand accounts such as this. We have had men here (most of whom I have now done the funeral for) who were in WWII - mostly in Europe who spoke of D-Day and the Battle of the Bulge and others who have shared their stories of what they experienced.

Sometime back in going through boxes from my father's house I found his mother's five year diary which had entries from 1938-1942. It has been interesting to read her feelings and thoughts experiencing the news of the bombing of Pearl Harbor first hand and her concern with a son (my dad) in the U.S. Army Air Corps.

We own all of them and all those who lost their lives defending our nation a big thank you and a time of silence for their sacrifices. Please let your uncle know how much I appreciated that excerpt and plan to get a copy of the book and thank him for working with Donald to write this noteworthy book!
Edited by pjedsel, Dec 8 2016, 12:52 AM.
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Douglas
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A big thank you to all those who Served in the past and currently!

Coincidentally, just last night I watched a documentary called "Pearl Harbor - Into The Arizona", Donald Stratton was part of the show, invited to revisit the Arizona during the time they were dropping a small submersible with a camera into the lower decks. Below the upper deck it seems had not been seen in 75 years, no diver has been allowed in there since the war, I guess it is designated a Naval grave site or something to that effect, but they had some concerns with the condition of the ship because of its age and all, so they allowed them to send the submersible in.

Well I wont go on anymore about the TV show, guess I have a bit of a love for history as well. The book Donald and your uncle wrote sounds like it will be a great bit of history to read. Thanks for the info on it.

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microbuss
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I watched a documentary about Pearl Harbor
They took a ROV to the 3rd deck of the Arizona & :o there was a uniform still hanging on a coat hanger in a officer's cabin!!
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Stampede
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I'm a bit of a history buff (especially the world wars) so this speaks to me on so many levels! Definitely one I need to put on the to-read list, and awesome that your uncle helped to write it.

Thanks for sharing this, Ben! And do thank your uncle and Mr. Stratton for their service, and for sharing their experiences with the rest of us.
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