Stratton attended the Quincy, Massachusetts public school (1937–1948) and Our Lady of Hope Minor Seminary (1949–1951), Newburg, New York.

He developed an early interest in aviation with initial visits in the mid-1930s to Dennison Airport (Squantum), in Quincy, Massachusetts, the home of the Harvard Aero Club, which hosted Amelia Earhart.

During high school, he closely observed the intensive training activities of aircraft based at the Naval Air Station Squantum, (Quincy Massachusetts), observed aircraft carrier launchings at the Fore River Shipyard (Quincy, Massachusetts) and maintained contact with neighbors then serving in the Armed Forces.

During high school Stratton enlisted in the Massachusetts National Guard (1947–1948) [211 Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron (Mechanized) – First Corps Cadets].

He received his flight training with CNABATRA in the Pensacola Naval complex, making his initial carrier qualification on the USS Saipan (CVL-48) in the North American SNJ-5 on July 27, 1956.

From 1962 to 1964 he was assigned to the NROTC Unit Stanford for postgraduate studies in International Relations under Professor James T. Watkins IV.

In 1964, Stratton was promoted to Lieutenant Commander and assigned as aide and Executive Assistant to the Deputy Director, Joint Strategic Planning Staff, SAC, Offutt AFB, Nebraska.

Upon completion of that tour of duty in 1966, he was ordered to VA-125, the light attack replacement air group, NAS Lemoore, California, for refresher training in the A4 Skyhawk.

VA-192 joined Carrier Air Wing Nineteen on board the USS Ticonderoga (CV-14) for a deployment in the Gulf of Tonkin and South China Sea.

When the ferry could not be found, Stratton spotted a set of barges one mile further upriver and rolled in to attack the craft with rockets.

[3][4] Robert J. McCloskey of the U.S. Department of State cited Lockwood's material about Stratton as evidence that North Vietnam was brainwashing prisoners for propaganda.

A 1978 book by Scott Blakely, Prisoner at War: The Survival of Commander Richard A Stratton, explores the bowing incident and its complicated history.

[6] Stratton used the Lockwood press conference to perform in such a way that it would raise doubt and confusion regarding the so-called confession to the discredit of his captors.

His nom de guerre, while attached to the 4th Allied POW Wing in Hanoi, changed frequently to confuse his captors: "Dick"; "Penis", "Wiz" (Wizard).

Stratton was released on March 4, 1973, at Hanoi's Gia Lam Airport as part of the 2nd DRV Increment, Operation Homecoming, comprising 108 POWs on three flights.

His final active duty assignment was as Director, Naval Academy Preparatory School, NETC, Newport, Rhode Island, from 1981 to 1986.