Raterman,George_N- ww2

Too often in today’s fast-paced world, I have seen Memorial Day reduced to just another day off, a day to grill out or a day to sleep in. It saddens me greatly that too many people today either don’t care why we celebrate Memorial Day or worse yet don’t even know what it is for. I want to say something to you that I should have said so long ago, thank you so much for the sacrifices you made so many years ago. Every time I see an airplane, any of our military, a soldier on TV, I think of you, my grandpa. Because of what you did, this great country of ours remains the home of the free and the home of the brave. But that is only because of you and your incredible bravery, sacrifice and love for our country and God. Grandpa, thank you. I can only imagine what you must have gone through when you went off to Germany to fight a war in a land you had never seen before against people you didn’t even know. On top of that you had to leave the woman you loved so deeply never knowing if you would ever see her again. I can’t imagine the pride and sorrow that must have gone through your soul when your daughter, my mother, was born, and you were a million miles away. How you must have longed to be here in the States holding that precious life that you helped to bring into the world. Grandpa, thank you. I can’t even begin to imagine the intense sorrow you must have felt when a buddy’s life was so quickly taken without warning. I can’t imagine the bravery you showed those around you when you defended your wife, your daughter, your country, and your beliefs against such a formidable foe. Grandpa, thank you. What incredible joy and pride you must have felt when you returned home to the United States of America, triumphant. I can only imagine the tears that welled up in you soul when you finally held Grandma and mom for the first time in so long. Grandpa, thank you. I should have said this a long time ago. Grandpa, I am so proud to be your grandson, and I am so proud of you for defending our country the way you did. I will never forget what you did and will be eternally grateful for you. Grandpa, thank you. Your grandson, Rick.

Number	Name of Source	Repository	Actual Images
1	The following paper was written to describe George Raterman’s World War II service. It was written as a school paper by grandson Randy Monnin. It was based on interviews that he conducted with George on January 11 and January 18, 1986.	Copy in the George N. Raterman Family Papers, in possession of this website's author.	[click here to read the paper]
2	file: Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938 - 1946 (WW2 Army Enlistment Records) ; George's army serial number is: 35508709	National Archives - Access to Archival Databases online: http://aad.archives.gov/aad/series-list.jsp?cat=SB209&bc=sb
3	Enlisted Record of George N. Raterman from 1942	in possession of daughter
4	George Raterman's letter dated 21 September 1942 to his daughter while he was stationed at Fort Eustis, Virginia.	in possession of daughter
5	Certificate of Completion of Officer Candidate Course, (Antiaircraft Artillery School) for George Nicholas Raterman dated 01 April 1943	in possession of daughter
6	Honorable Discharge from the Army of the US - this was actually a discharge from Camp Davis in North Carolina where he had graduated from the Antiaircraft artillery school. He then accepted an appointment and active duty as 2nd lieutenant.	in possession of daughter
7	Appointment of George Nicholas Raterman as 2nd Lieutenant, Army of the United States, effective 01 April 1943.	in possession of daughter
8	Promotion of George Nicholas Raterman from 2nd Lt. to 1st Lt. dated 15 February 1944	in possession of daughter
9	Boarding pass for George on the Susan B. Anthony, the ship he took over to Europe in 1944. Note: there is a very informative and interesting article on the Susan B. Anthony. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ USS_Susan_B._Anthony_(AP-72)	in possession of daughter
10	Notice of promotion for George from 1st Lt to Captain dated 29 December 1945	in possession of daughter
11	Army Qualification separation record dated 26 January 1946	in possession of daughter