All the Gallant Men: An American Sailor's Firsthand Account of Pearl Harbor

Please allow me to preface my review with a little about why this book resides in my library: I like to consider myself a student, albeit without a degree, of History. I learned so much sitting beside my Dad, or on the floor listening to a parade of Uncles, Cousins, and all too briefly Grandfathers, as they related their experiences in the service of the Nation. Those stories led me to begin searching libraries and bookstores for texts and tomes, magazines and microfiche, videos and films, containing more and ever more "nutrition" to satisfy the hunger I developed for facts, figures, stories, opinion and counter-opinions, and to build a solid foundation for any discussions I encounter as to whether or not we need a strong military defence apparatus, and why we must never forget the service & sacrifice of those who raised their hands and stepped into the living He'll of battle to defend our very lives and freedoms. This book was recommended to me by my partner in the ambulance. I've been retired for nearly eight years, and recently we were visiting. He had read the book, and KNEW it was just the sort of book I should read. So I read a sample and was hooked. The book chronicles the life of one member of the Greatest Generation, detailing how the Navy, his Family, the War, and the horrible events of 7 December 1941 moulded, shattered, rebuild, and forged him in its furnace, into the man he was at the time the book was written, and likely was on the day he was called home by God in 2020. While the most graphic and ghastly details are not chronicles to their nightmarish details, the book is best as a day read for most folks and not as a bedtime read - although with 32 years under my belt as a Firefighter/Paramedic I mostly ignored my own advice. The book chronicles his pride in serving on the BEST ship in the BEST Navy, alongside the BEST crew in that Navy. Then you are plugged into the maelstrom of exploding bombs and torpedoes, of white hot shrapnel and bullets ringing off steel and thudding into flesh, of wails and cries of pain, of flames, searing heat, choking fumes and smoke, and a massive blast that ripped the very air from your lungs and the last ounces of naive innocence from your soul. It pays our escape, rescue, healing, recovery, and discharge home. He sheds the old Son Stratton for a new one, not unlike the Phoenix rising from its own ashes. The hardest read for me was the continuing on, the nightmares, anger, and the " WHY THEM, WHY NOT ME?" he lived with the rest of his days. The book is an excellent relating of his story, a fitting tribute to the men of the U.S.S. Arizona, and a well written story of a brave, honourable Sailor. The book is a must-read. It will make as fine an addition to your library as it is to mine. Fair Winds & Following Seas to the crew of the Arizona, and to all those who fell on that Day of Infamy. Thank you, Don, for your service, and for sharing your story with us.

Impact full. Easy read. Great first person experience of what happened to the Arizona at Pearl Harbour.

This book turns a horrific event into a beautiful story of survival without leaving you feeling gutted. It was definitely heartbreaking on many levels... breathtaking in others and respectfully hopeful throughout. The historical education alone is worth it but sharing his personal story and his perspective... gave it a more real account than just reading about stats and facts. Even more of a surprise was the second half of the book outlining things that could have helped prevent or lessen the impact. Brilliant writing. Brilliant collaboration.

Don Stratton was born in the 19230's and grew up in a small Nswbraska town during the 1930's. Following high school he enlisted in the Navy, if for no other reason than it would be one less mouth for his family to feed. Following basic training he was assigned to the USS Arizona. He talks about life on board her during the days leading up to December 7. He is one of five men still living who survived the attack on the Arizona. He was burned over 65% of his body, wazs eventually discharged. Later in he war he convinced the Navy that he could still perform and returned to a Destroyer and saw action during several of the battles in the Pacific Theatre during the last year of the war. He echoes Gordon Prange and Edwin Layton in their criticism of the Don Stratton was born in the 1920's and grew up during the depression in a small Nebraska town. He enlisted in the Navy if for no other reason than to give his family one less mouth to feed. Following basic raining he as assigned to the USS Arizona. He descries his initial awe art the size and complexity of the ship, life on board and Hawaii in the pre-war days. He is one of five men still living who survived the attack on the Day of Infamy. Burned over 65% of his body, he eventually recovered and was discharged. After a while he convinced the Navy to allow hi to reenlist. He served on a destroyer during the last year of the war, seeing action in a number of battles in the Pacific Theatre. He echoes others who have written about Parl Harbor, especially Gordon Prange and to a lesser extent, Edwin Layton in criticizing the us government as well as the Army and Navy commands in Pearl Harbor. Rightly he connects Pearly Harbor to 9/11.

What a wonderful true story of the life or death struggle of one of the few surviving crew members of the horrific bombing of the USS Arizona on Dec 7, 1941. Mr. Stratton, the author and survivor, tells in gripping detail the events of those few moments on that Sunday morning when everyone's life was suddenly changed forever. The surprise aerial attack, with bombs and torpedoes exploding all around the harbor and enemy aircraft flying so low that even the facial features and gestures of the pilots were visible, comes alive. The once safe and secure world aboard a gigantic dreadnaught is now being shredded, exploded, and burnt away while a helpless crew is desperately manning anti-aircraft guns firing what few rounds of ammunition was available in a vain hope of fending off the unexpected attack. You will almost feel the exploding bomb blast concussions, large caliber aerial gunnery fire, and searing heat from the massive ship fires as each passage is quickly read. Imagine the fear, angst, and desperation of a few survivors, many of whom were badly burned and injured, to carefully grope across a literal lifeline to access the safety aboard a nearby ship. Mr. Stratton tells of his and others' painful hospital recoveries, most lasting nearly a full year... many surgeries, skin grafts, and painful therapies to regain strength, health, and mobility. This is an experience no person should ever have to face, yet one that no person should ever forget did happen to so many brave young men that bloody Sunday morning. This book is an excellent example of the fortitude and perseverance of the men and woman who daily proved why today we refer to them as the Greatest Generation.

The gallant men and women of the Pearl Harbor sneak attack are well described in this book. Their actions that day and the days after deserve to be acknowledged and respected. This book brought me to tears at times. From the book: " Zeros strafed the ship, their bullets ripping up the deck and shredding any sailors who were on it. With each pass, the Japanese pilot smiled or waved or made some other mocking gesture. The smug bastards. The whole lot of them were cowards and murders. Without a declaration of war, they waged war on us." This is a must read. Thank you, Donald Stratton, for telling your story.

On December 7th, 1941, the Japanese attacked the American Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor. Over two thousand American service personnel lost their lives. Over half of them died when the USS Arizona was struck in its forward magazine by a Japanese armor-piercing bomb. One of the survivors of the USS Arizona was Donald Stratton. He tells his story in this fine book. Stratton grew up in the small town of Red Cloud, Nebraska. A child of the Dust Bowl, Stratton joined the Navy to escape the poverty he faced on the family farm. He was stationed aboard the USS Arizona. On that fateful day in December, 1941, Don was burned over much of his body due to the fire from the Arizona's exploding magazine. He managed to make it to a neighboring ship by shimmying hand over hand on a rope extended between the two ships. He faced a year of recovery in hospitals, where doctors wanted to amputate his limbs. He refused and willed himself to learn to walk again. He returned home to Nebraska, but as his health improved, he re-enlisted in the Navy and was stationed aboard the USS Stack, a destroyer. Donald faced action in the Philippines and Okinawa before the war ended. The best way to learn about history is to read first-person accounts of events, and Donald Stratton gives the reader just that in "All The Gallant Men". He describes what it was like during the Japanese attack on December 7th, 1941. He witnessed the destruction of the USS Arizona. He witnessed the deaths of his fellow shipmates. He witnessed the men swimming for their lives in the oil-covered waters. He witnessed the doctors and nurses working for all hours to save survivors. He also built up a determination to get back in the fight. "All The Gallant Men" is a fitting tribute by one sailor to his fellow shipmates, living and dead. Stratton believed that the true heroes were the ones who made the ultimate sacrifice on that day of infamy. I agree. If you want to read a true first-hand account of December 7th, 1941, then don't miss "All The Gallant Men". Highly recommended.

very good story