World War II Honoree

Paul P. Ratcliffe

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Private. On January 14, 1942, he was inducted into the United States Marine Corps from Pennsylvania. His boot camp training took place with the Fourth Recruit Battalion, Training Regiment; Marine Corps Base at Parris Island, South Carolina. Later he completed his Marine Combat Training at Camp Geiger, North Carolina. Served as a Rifleman with Charlie Company, First Marine Raider Battalion, attached to the First Marine ‘the Old Breed’ Division in the Southwestern Pacific Theater of Operations. His Division participated in the amphibious assault against the Japanese Imperial Army and Naval forces on the island of Guadalcanal (Battle Dates: August 7, 1942-February 9, 1943) Solomon Islands Campaign, Code Name: Operation Watchtower. Reported missing in action, lost at sea Monday, September 14, 1942. His name is permanently inscribed in the tablets of the missing, memorialized at the Manila American Cemetery, Philippine Islands. Later his missing in action status was amended to read, killed in action September 15, 1943. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country.