The Gallant Story of Donald Stratton

I recently went on a trip to Oahu, Hawaii to sing at a series of churches and schools with my university concert choir. While on this beautiful island, I got the chance to visit Pearl Harbor and take the short boat ride to the USS Arizona Memorial. It was a somber and reflective experience for which I am forever grateful I was able to experience. I prayed over the names on the shrine at the back of the memorial, knowing that I would never know all of their stories. But I was able to get acquainted with one Navy soldier's story -- a soldier who not only survived the bombing of the Arizona, but returned to the war effort to fight in the battles of Okinawa. This man is Donald Stratton, and his story can only be described as gallant. His book was the first one to catch my eye in the gift shop at the harbor. I walked in knowing that I wanted to buy a book to be able to better educate myself on all that there was to know and honor about the attack on December 7, 1941. And All the Gallant Men allowed me to catch a glimpse into not only the horrific elements of war that millions have had to face, but also the lessons and respect harbored in the life of a survivor. Donald's story takes readers through his childhood in a little town called Red Cloud, Nebraska to his exciting days of travel away from the flatlands and into the open ocean with the U.S. Navy. His story also allows readers to be exposed to the terrors of that surprise attack and how it forever affected his life and stuck with him forever. My favorite part of this book was the impression that Donald had poured his soul into the very words on the pages. He is incredibly open and honest about the fear and conflicting emotions he felt, the pain of his physical burns and scars, and the questions he asked himself concerning how to live a full life in light of being a survivor. I would recommend this book to absolutely everyone. It doesn't matter if you aren't a big fan of autobiographies -- this autobiography is one that truly touches the soul as well as educates about the implications and legacy of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Donald passed away on February 15, 2020, but his memory and vigor certainly live on in this amazing book. He asked himself in the book's epilogue whether or not he had lived a good life, as Private Ryan of Saving Private Ryan once asked himself. And according to the man portrayed in All the Gallant Men, Donald Stratton certainly lived a full life. 

My favorite quotes from All the Gallant Men:

"What happened on December 7, 1941, if it didn't kill us, changed us forever."

"Am I worth dying for?"

"If the good Lord isn't merciful, none of us has a prayer."

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