The USS North Carolina (BB-55) My all-time favorite warship. As an elementary school student in North Carolina, I donated nickels and dimes to save this ship back in the early sixties.

Thursday, March 10, 2016

USS Arizona Survivor Pushes for Recognition of Sailor Who Saved His Life-- Part 1

From the Feb. 17, 2016, KOAA 5 by Andy Koen.

Don Stratton had just left the USS Arizona's mess hall and was bringing oranges to a buddy in sick bay.  On the way there, he spotted a group of sailors in the bow of the ship staring and pointing at the horizon.  Then they saw the first plane clearly and when the rising sun on its tail became clear, they knew they were in for it.

Everyone ran to their battle stations.  He recalled, "We were being strafed and dive bombed and high altitude bombers were bombing us."

Mr. Stratton's battle station was at  the sight of an anti-aircraft gun high above the deck.  he remembers his shells falling short of those high altitude bombers.

--GreGen

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