DiscoverWarriors In Their Own Words | First Person War StoriesEscaping the USS Arizona: GM3 Donald Gay Stratton
Escaping the USS Arizona: GM3 Donald Gay Stratton

Escaping the USS Arizona: GM3 Donald Gay Stratton

Update: 2024-07-18
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Gunner’s Mate 3rd Class Petty Officer Donald Gay Stratton was on the USS Arizona during the attack on Pearl Harbor. He directed four 5-inch guns before an armor-piercing bomb hit the ship, sending up a 600 ft wall of flame. Stratton suffered burns on nearly 60% of his body. “The skin on our arms just came off like big socks,” he recalls.


After an escape into the water couldn’t be found, crew from another vessel tossed a rope to Stratton and his allies. They tied it to their ship and for 60ft, swung hand-over-hand to reach safety.

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Escaping the USS Arizona: GM3 Donald Gay Stratton

Escaping the USS Arizona: GM3 Donald Gay Stratton

Evergreen Podcasts | The Honor Project