>> trapped aboard a sinking battleship, he and five others managed to escape which killed more than 1,000 shipmates. a fellow sailor threw them a lifeline. with burns over 60% of his body, he had to escape the burning warship. >> we went across the line, 60, 70 feet. he kept saying come on, you can make it great >> the man who rescued him, joe george. in his book, stratton described joe as the strongest man in the harbor. he disobeyed orders and throughw stratton the line. >> we have for generations here because of that man, 14 people in our family who wouldn't necessarily be here without joe