RATLIFF-WILLIAM
WILLIAM K. RATLIFF
SAN DIEGO, CA 1959
Deceased
01/06/2004
Rate/Rank
CAPT
CAPT
Service Branch
USN 2/1941 - 8/1968
Speciality
SURFACE WARFARE
Born
04/27/1915
WEST VIRGINIA
US NAVAL ACADEMY C'40, ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND
PEARL HARBOR, DEC 7, 1941
NAVAL BASE, 32ND ST. SAN DIEGO, CAL
CO/XO DESTROYERS IN THE PACIFIC
COMMODORE, DESTROYER SQUADRON (DESRON), TREASURE ISLAND, SAN FRANCISCO, CAL
4 BRONZE STARS W/ COMBAT 'V'
LEGION OF MERIT
AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL
ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL
WWII VICTORY MEDAL
AMERICAN DEFENSE MED WITH STAR
PURPLE HEART
PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION
UNITED NATIONS MEDAL
ASIA PACIFIC W /BRONZE STAR MEDAL
REPUBLIC OF KOREA WAR SERVICE MEDAL
Fresh out of Annapolis, when the Japanese struck Pearl Harbor he was an Ensign OOD onboard his ship, a destroyer escort with minimal crew. He and one Chief and a few others got underway and took that ship out to sea during the attack without damage.
Later in the war his destroyer was fatally hit, on fire and sinking - he and his Captain were at the bow, the last two to abandon ship. His skipper (lost at sea) said "you take starboard Bill and I will take the port side." Oil and fuel in the water blinded Bill and he spent months in a Naval Hospital until his eyesight fortunately returned. Captain Ratliff was a great gentleman and the information in this listing is as told to his young LT Flight Officer neighbor in San Diego 1974-1976.