Japanese American Military Experience Database
William Edwin "Gus" Ratcliffe
Gender
Male
Birth date
1913-3-29
Place of birth
Charleston WV, U.S.A.
Inducted
, Fort Thomas KY
Enlistment type
Volunteer
Service branch
Army
Service type
War
Unit type
Combat
Units served
522 F.A. of the 442nd R.C.T. and .999 F.A.
Military specialty
F.A. Unit Commander 1193 Insurance Officer - 5751
Stationed
Ft. Bragg, N.C.; Ft. Sill, OK.; Ft. Benj. Harrison, IN.; Camp Shelby, Miss.; Italy; France; Germany
Separated
Fort Meade MD
Unit responsibility
Battery of 105mm Howitzers, Operation and Administration
Personal responsibility
Command of the battery of 110 men
Major battles (if served in a war zone)
Italy: Rome-Arno, North Appenines France: Vosges Mountains Germany: SAAR to Munich
Awards, medals, citations (individual or unit)
We received none of the unit medals as they were given only to the infantry. Our battery did receive a commendation from a General for completing a 20 minute test in 10 minutes.
Living conditions
Sleep - On the ground Bathe - The helmet...an occasional creek Meals - Adequate, but Army chow. We killed a cow once in Germany; it helped.
Most vivid memory of military experience
No answer
Missed most whilst in the military
No answer
Most important thing, personally, to come from military experience?
No answer