World War II Honoree

Garland Leon Ratliff

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Louisville, Kentucky

Honored By

Maud Ratliff

Relationship

Wife

ENTERED SERVICE ON 6/24/42. BASIC TRAINING AT CAMP WOLTERS, WHERE HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE MILITARY POLICE ESCORT GUARD. SHIPPED OUT TO ORAN, AFRICA TO PICKUP PRISONERS OF WAR FROM HITLER'S AFRICA KORPS. AFTER RETURNING THEM TO CAMP FORREST, TENNESSEE, HE WAS SENT TO CAMP JOHNSTON FOR D-DAY INVASION TRAINING. SHIPPED OUT TO ENGLAND IN THE SPRING OF 1944. HIS PART OF THE INVASION PLANS WERE SCRAPPED AND HE JOINED THE 103RD CACTUS DIVISION, 409TH REGIMENT, D COMPANY MORTAR MEN IN NOVEMBER AROUND ST. DIE, FRANCE. REMAINED AT THE FRONT THROUGH V-E DAY WHEN HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE 2ND CHEMICAL MORTAR BATTALION FOR OCCUPATION DUTY. AWARDED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, BRONZE STAR, EUROPEAN THEATER MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND OCCUPATION MEDAL.