World War II Honoree

Bruce Wayne Ratts

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Fayetteville, North Carolina

Honored By

Nicole Mitchell

Relationship

Granddaughter

SERVED WITH THE U.S. NAVY IN THE EUROPEAN THEATRE OF OPERATIONS IN AFRICA. HE WAS STATIONED ABOARD THE USS FROST DE-144 FROM ITS COMMISSION IN ORANGE, TEXAS UNTIL ITS DECOMMISSION IN GREEN COVE, FLORIDA. THIS SHIP WAS THE FLAGSHIP DESTROYER ESCORTING THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS CROATAN. HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE 13TH DIVISION WHICH CONTAINED 5 DESTROYER ESCORTS WHOSE MISSION WAS TO SEEK OUT AND DESTROY GERMAN SUBMARINES. WHILE STATIONED ON THE USS FROST, THE SHIP SUNK 5 GERMAN U-BOATS RESULTING IN THE SHIP AND CREW RECEIVING THE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION. HE ALSO RECEIVED EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH TWO STARS, THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH TWO STARS AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL.