Pearl Harbor 65th Anniversary: The Last Reunion for Many Vets?

Dec. 7, 2006 — -- At 84 years old, Donald Stratton hasn't forgotten how to be a proper sailor.

As he gingerly walks up the ramp into the elegant white memorial that straddles the sunken battleship USS Arizona in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, he pauses to salute.

"You always salute the officer of the deck, and ask permission to come aboard, sir," he said.

"It brings back a lot of memories," Stratton said, following a short boat ride that brought him out to the memorial. "And not a lot of good ones, either."

Today is the 65th anniversary of the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor that killed 2,395 Americans and plunged the United States into World War II. About half of the dead were Stratton's shipmates on the Arizona, which exploded and eventually sank after an armor-piercing bomb ignited 1 million pounds of explosives below deck. Stratton suffered burns on more than 60 percent of his body and was just barely able to escape by climbing a rope to a nearby ship.

Every five years, thousands of Pearl Harbor survivors like Stratton have always come back to commemorate Dec. 7. But as time passes, many are finding it harder to come back.

This year, he brought his wife, Velma, son Randy and granddaughter Nikki to the USS Arizona Memorial to share in the painful memories of that day. Randy's wife, Kathy, and family friend Wayne Mercer also came along.

As they toured the memorial a few days ago, Stratton fondly talked about the Arizona as if he could still see it docked in the harbor.

"It was 605 feet long," he said, pointing to a diagram of the battleship.

Stratton's loved ones stood behind him. Several were in tears.

Stratton knows he is fortunate -- he is still in good enough health to make the five-hour flight to Hawaii from his California home. For many veterans, however, the realities of old age and declining health, combined with the rigors of travel, have made them realize this is likely the last time they will gather in this hallowed place.