All the Gallant Men Audiobook By Donald Stratton, Ken Gire cover art

All the Gallant Men

An American Sailor's Firsthand Account of Pearl Harbor

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All the Gallant Men

By: Donald Stratton, Ken Gire
Narrated by: Mike Ortego
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About this listen

The extraordinary first and only memoir by a survivor of the USS Arizona, published in conjunction with the 75th anniversary of Pearl Harbor.

An unforgettable and moving story of tragedy, heroism, resilience, and redemption that is sure to become an enduring document of American history, All the Brave Men is a sailor's moment-by-moment eyewitness account of the Japanese surprise attack that decimated the US Pacific Fleet in Hawaii on December 7, 1941, and his inspiring return to active duty to carry on the Allied fight in the Pacific.

On December 7, 1941, the Arizona was moored in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, alongside seven other American battleships. At 7:55 a.m., the leisurely Sunday morning's serenity was broken by the drone of bomb-laden Japanese Zeros swooping from the sky. The Arizona was the first battleship targeted in a massive surprise attack by the Empire of Japan; 353 imperial warplanes swarmed Battleship Row and neighboring Hickam Airfield in a meticulously planned assault launched to cripple America's Pacific Fleet.

Amid the terrifying chaos of explosions and incessant machine gun fire, 19-year-old Seaman First Class Donald Stratton raced to his battle station on the Arizona. Barely 15 minutes into the attack, a 1,760-pound armor-piercing bomb hit the ship, setting off a million pounds of munitions and 180,000 gallons of aviation fuel aboard. The explosion lifted the massive battleship out of the water, causing the forward deck to buckle, and engulfed it in an enormous 50-foot fireball that tore through the antiaircraft platform where Don and his team were stationed.

Burned over more than 65 percent of his body, Don, with his gunnery team, miraculously escaped the inferno; using their charred hands, they climbed across a 70-foot-long rope stretched 45 feet above flaming, oil-slicked water to reach the Vestal, moored nearby. While Don made it out alive, 1,177 of his crewmates perished - more than half the American casualty total of the attack.

But this remarkable story does not end here. After more than a year of grueling treatment, including learning to walk again, Don recovered and doggedly battled navy bureaucracy to reenlist. Determined to take the fight to the enemy, he participated in some of the bloodiest battles of the Pacific, including the invasions of New Guinea, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa.

Told in remarkable, never-before-revealed first-person detail, this powerful and uplifting memoir of war and survival resonates with the spirit, heart, and undaunted courage of such beloved best sellers as Unbroken and The Boys in the Boat.

©2016 Donald Stratton and Ken Gire (P)2016 HarperCollins Publishers
Naval Forces United States World War II Military War Transportation
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What listeners say about All the Gallant Men

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Should be required reading for every American!

I knew of Don Stratton because I’m a fellow Nebraskan. What a story he told and what a life he led! Wish I had read this before visiting Pearl Harbor & the Arizona Memorial. RIP Don.

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Outstanding!

Incredible book by a member of the greatest generation. A tale of the horror of war.

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read or listen, it's a must, I thought I knew but

loved it. I learned a lot. but it's not just a documentary it's a life well lived.

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Incredibly told

One of the most incredibly told stories of the attack on Pearl Harbor. The story is powerful and the narration does it justice. Powerful reminder, I especially like that Don Stratton tells of the lessons learned and the changes made. Thank you sir for your heroic service, for going above and beyond and for inspiring others.

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Oh my goodness!

This “history report” is so amazing. We need to not forget what our past generations did for our freedom.

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Hard to Verbalize

How they managed to allow me to see and feel a piece of that horrible moment in our history and the affect it had on so many? I am at a loss of words to describe the emotions this story invoked. God Bless our country, our armed forces and all the great things they represent.

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Truly amazing story.

This is a truly amazing story from a unique perspective. It's so very important to hear the trials and tribulations from the source itself. Listening to this book made me go out and look things up on my own. Such as the pictures and film of Pearl Harbor. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in U.S. history, history of war and everyone else. I also think this book would be beneficial to any high school student in any U.S. History class.

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This is my first audible. It was great.

I loved this book. Its my first audible and I'm so happy I purchased this book first. Mike Ortego does a great job. Can't wait to purchase my next book.

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The best, and most inspiring

A great read, bought both the book and audible versions, I just wish I could have met Mr. Stratton and thanked him personally for both his service and telling his story of Pearl Harbor. I happen to live just 20 minutes from the hospital where he recovered from his injuries. I will re-read his book again some time because I enjoyed and learned so much about that time in our history.

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Great story - great man!

I had not heard of Don Stratton until he died and was to be buried in my home town of Red Cloud, NE. After hearing his story, I am proud to say I’m from the same little town. He chose not to have his ashes interred at the Arizona. He said he’d already been incinerated once, he didn’t want to do it again. Truly great story by a truly gallant man!

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