My Thoughts of All the Gallant Men: An American Sailor's Firsthand Account of Pearl Harbor by Donald Stratton with Ken Gire

Donald Stratton was born in a small Midwest town in 1922. He grew up during the Great Depression. He joined the United States Navy because jobs were few. He was on the USS Arizona on December 7, 1941, when it was struck by Japanese bombs. He was one of five sailors who survived crossing a rope line from the USS Arizona over to the repair ship Vestal.

All the Gallant Men is an emotional book to read. It is also a story of bravery and heroism. Stratton did not believe he was one of the gallant men, but it was the others who perished who were gallant.

Stratton begins his story with his childhood and progresses to life in the Navy. On the morning of December 7, 1941, he shares that morning in precise times of events. He includes his recovery at the hospital, and rehab in California, leading to his discharge. Later, he reenlisted in the Navy and served until the end of the war.

Several important features:
1. Stratton remembers with clearness the night before the Pearl Harbor bombing. He spent the night on deck. The night sky was clear enough to see the Milky Way. A feeling of peace washed over him. He could hear a band playing in the distance.
2. He shares about the USS Arizona band. They had shore leave the night of December 6. They were a talented band.
3. An explanation of the 1,760-pound armor piercing bomb that was dropped and went through four steel decks down to where the ammunition was kept. Pages 93 -105 is the harrowing story of the end of that ship and his evacuation of it to the ship Vestal. This is a difficult passage to read. It is vivid. Detailed. Graphic.
4. Stratton tells his story, and he tells his story in his own pace. His thoughts are shared both from back then and present (at the writing of the story.)
5. He gave the particulars of those who were survivors and what it was like in the hospital. For example, 60% of the men had burns. The nurses used flashlights in the hospital at night because of concern of other attacks from Japan. There were men rescued from a pocket in the hull of the Oklahoma. The gruesome and courageous job of recovery efforts which went on until 1943.
6. The circumstances of when Stratton received the Purple Heart.
7. Chapter 12 is his thoughts of “The Lessons of Pearl Harbor.”
8. A section titled “Corroborating Sources.”

All the Gallant Men is a book that I will always remember.

All the Gallant Men
Published by William Morrow in 2016.
314 pages with print.
34 black and white illustrations.