The Yankee Air Pirate

26/05/2025

Memorial Day isn't about barbecues or beach days—it's about those American heroes who gave everything for our freedom.🇺🇸

18/05/2025

“They continued to beat me until I thought I would go out of my mind with the pain. I said, ‘Okay, I’ll tell you, stop.’ And they stopped. I took a few minutes while they waited just to get my breath and allow the pain to dissipate a little, and then I said, ‘I don’t have any answer.’ So back to the beating...”
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Eugene “Red” McDaniel was shot down over North Vietnam and captured in May 1967. He spent the next 6 years in captivity. Throughout his time as a prisoner, he continually served as an inspiration to his fellow captives. After his release in 1973, he was awarded a host of medals for providing medical care to other prisoners, acting as chaplain and boosting morale, devising many ingenious methods of communication between captives, and his unwavering resistance to the enemy despite being brutally tortured.
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His most extreme confrontation with the enemy came in 1969 when several other prisoners failed in their attempt to escape. McDaniel took responsibility for facilitating their escape, even fabricated a tale of his own escape plan, in order avoid revealing the names of others who were actually involved in the plot. McDaniel suffered isolation, beatings, electric shock, and binding with ropes that fractured his arm. For his incredible resolve, he was later awarded the Navy Cross.
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McDaniel remained in the Navy following his release. He retired as a Captain in 1982. His other awards include 2 Silver Stars, 2 Legions of Merit with “V”, 3 Bronze Stars with “V”, and 2 Purple Hearts.
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29/03/2025

Today, we come together to honor the extraordinary 2.7 million men and women who served in the Vietnam War. Their sacrifices and bravery have left an indelible mark on our history. We reflect on their courage and express our heartfelt thanks.

02/03/2025

Thank you to Mayor Tom Koch and the entire City of Quincy, MA. for the beautiful Tribute Video of the final journey home for Captain Richard A. Stratton, USN Ret.

Huge thanks to City of Quincy Mayor Tom Koch, Quincy Police Department, Quincy Fire Department, Keohane Funeral Home, U.S. Navy, and Delta Air Lines for their amazing work to make it all happen.

Cecil Field POW MIA Memorial, Inc.
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund
Vietnam Vet Radio
VietnamWarHistoryOrg
National League of POW/MIA Families
The Quincy Sun
The 4th Allied POW Wing - An Honor To Serve
United States Naval Academy
Naval Academy Preparatory School
National Naval Aviation Museum
NAS Pensacola
The Tailhook Association
U.S. Navy
Naval Station Mayport
Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans
Son Tay Raid Association

15/02/2025

02/02/2025

Thank you to the Quincy Police Department, Quincy Fire Department, and the office of Mayor Tom Koch for welcoming home Captain Richard A. Stratton, USN Ret. to Quincy MA for the final time. He’s home where he belongs!

God bless Quincy and God Bless America🇺🇸

22/01/2025

https://www.quinn-shalz.com/obituaries/richard-stratton

View Richard Stratton's obituary, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

21/01/2025

Many people have been reaching out to learn details of services being planned for my father. The plans are as follows and anyone wanting to pay their respects to my father are welcome:

Jacksonville FL Services:

Friday, January 24th at 1pm
•Memorial mass at St John the Baptist Catholic Church. 2400 Mayport Rd, Jacksonville, FL 32233
•Reception following immediately after at Fleetlanding. 1 Fleetlanding Blvd, Atlantic Beach FL 32233 (Johnson Hall) Right across the street from the church.

Quincy MA Services:

Friday, January 31st 4-8pm
•Wake and Rosary Service at Keohane Funeral Home
785 Hancock St Quincy MA 02170

Saturday, February 1st at 11am
•Funeral mass at
Sacred Heart Catholic Church
386 Hancock St Quincy MA 02171
•Burial at Mt Wollaston Cemetery immediately following mass
•Reception and “Grand Celebration “for a life well lived!

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to one of the charities close to my father’s heart:

Quincy Foundation
℅ Colonial Federal Savings Bank
15 Beach Street
Quincy, MA 02170

Missionary Oblates of Immaculate Mary
https://oblatesusa.org/donate/

20/01/2025

RIP to my favorite The Yankee Air Pirate. My father flew west at 830am on January 18, 2025 with both me and my oldest daughter, Amanda Stratton by his side holding his hands. His forecast is ~ CAVU

He’s in great hands now…
~ and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. ~John 11:26

Link to Veteran tribute page:
http://www.veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.php?recordID=10

15/12/2024

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/vietnam-war-hanoi-hilton-book-doug-hegdahl-b2662705.html

South Dakota native Doug Hegdahl was serving with the Navy during the Vietnam War when he fell into the waters of the South China Sea – soon becoming the youngest, lowest-ranking POW at the infamous Hanoi Hilton. As a new book details how Hegdahl played dumb to his captors – secretly memorizing ...

10/08/2024

Quincy dedicates the worlds 19th “Lone Sailor” statue, the centerpiece of the new Navy Park at Squantum, honoring Navy veterans

04/03/2024

51 years ago today this Yankee Air Pirate was released from the Hanoi Hilton and tasted freedom for the first time in over 6 years. HAPPY FREEDOM DAY!!!