Stratton (Richard A.) papers, bulk 1952-1990

Printable guide [HTML]
Request items

Summary

Title:
Richard A. Stratton papers
Dates:
bulk 1952-1990
Creators:
Stratton, Richard A., 1931- and Stratton, Alice M.
Abstract:
Correspondence, memoirs, speeches and writings, interview transcripts, memoranda, conference proceedings, flight logs, military records, personal documents, printed matter, and audiovisual material relating to American prisoners of war and persons missing in action during the Vietnam War, and to the treatment of released prisoners in North Vietnam. Includes some papers of Alice M. Stratton, deputy assistant secretary of the Navy for forces support and family, and wife of Richard A. Stratton.
Extent:
26 manuscript boxes, 3 videocassette boxes, 3 oversize boxes, 1 audio cassette box, 1 card file box, 4 motion picture film reels (25.0 Linear Feet)
Language:
English, French, Spanish, and German
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Richard A. Stratton papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Background

Scope and content:

The Richard A. Stratton papers consist of correspondence, speeches and writings, memoranda, interview transcripts conference proceedings, printed matter, and audiovisual material relating to American prisoners of war and persons missing in action during the Vietnam War, and to the treatment of released prisoners in North Vietnam. The collection includes some papers of his wife, Alice M. Stratton, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Force Support and Families (sometimes also referred to as "Personnel and Families"). The collection reflects Stratton's career both as a Navy pilot and social worker, as well as Alice Stratton's work for families of Naval officers and American POWs.

The Military Career File contains material relating to Richard Stratton's work in the Navy before and after the Vietnam War, including his Navy recruitment and courses he taught. The Alice M. Stratton File includes letters she received in response to a letter-writing campaign she conducted on behalf of Richard Stratton, as well as material relating to her work as deputy assistant secretary of the Navy after the Vietnam War. The Photographs series includes scenes of Stratton as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam's "Hanoi Hilton," as well as photographs by American photojournalist Lee Lockwood taken for Life magazine.

Throughout the collection, Richard A. Stratton is also referred to as "Dick" and "The Beak."

Biographical / historical:
Chronology
Date Event
1931 October 14
Born, Quincy, Massachusetts
1952-1954
Attended Oblate College
1947-1948
Enlisted in Massachusetts National Guard
Assigned Private in the 211th Calvary Reconnaissance Squadron
1964
Assigned as aide and executive assistant to the Deputy Direction, Joint Strategic Planning Staff, Strategic Air Command Headquarters, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska
Commissioned Lieutenant Commander
Master of Arts, International Relations, Stanford University
1955
Enlisted in Navy as naval aviation cadet
Bachelor of Arts, History and Government, Georgetown University
1962
Assigned to Naval Reserve Office Training Corps Unit Stanford
1988
Master of Social Work, Rhode Island College, School of Social Work
1959 April 4
Married Alice M. (Robertson) Stratton
1967 January 5
Captured as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam within Fourth Allied POW Wing, Hanoi, North Vietnam
1975
Assigned Commanding Officer, Navy Recruiting District, New York, East Meadow
Commissioned Captain
1977-1979
Commander, Recruiting Area Five, Great Lakes NTS, North Chicago, Illinois
1979-1981
Deputy for Operations, U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland
1981-1986
Director, Naval Academy Preparatory School, NETC, Newport Rhode Island
1986
Retired from active duty
1989-1995
Chairman, Department of Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee on Prisoners of War
1973 March 3
Released as part of Operation Homecoming
2001
Retired
1997-2001
Contract counselor for sailors and families at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Georgia and Naval Station Mayport, Florida
1969 May
Commissioned Commander
1957
Designated Naval Aviator
1958-1962
Joined Carrier Air Group Nine, Attack Squadron Ninety-four aboard USS Ranger; deployed to Western Pacific
Commissioned Lieutenant
1966
Joined Carrier Air Wing Nineteen, Attack Squadron One Ninety-two; deployed aboard the USS Ticonderoga to Tonkin Gulf, Southeast Asia
1973-1975
Executive Officer of Naval Plant Representative Office, Strategic Systems Project Office, Lockheed Missiles and Space Company
Acquisition information:
Acquired by the Hoover Institution Library Archives in 1975, with increments received in 1978, 1993, 2013, and 2015.
Physical location:
Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid prepared by Helena Ong
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2026-02-23 09:39:30.394386

Access and use

Restrictions:

Box 34 may not be used without permission of the Archivist. The remainder of the collection is open for research; materials must be requested in advance via our reservation system. If there are audiovisual or digital media material in the collection, they must be reformatted before providing access.

Terms of access:

For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Richard A. Stratton papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Location of this collection:
Hoover Institution Library & Archives, Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-6003, US
Contact:
(650) 723-3563
hooverarchives@stanford.edu
Website