This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Shaun Thomas (Underdog), OSC
to remember
Ratzlaff, Richard Raymond (SS / LOM x 2), CDR.
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The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant Commander Richard Raymond Ratzlaff (NSN: 0-681476), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while interned as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam on 20 June 1968. Lieutenant Commander Ratzlaff's captors, completely ignoring international agreements, subjected him to extreme mental and physical cruelties in an attempt to obtain military information and false confessions for propaganda purposes. Through his resistance to those brutalities, he contributed significantly toward the eventual abandonment of harsh treatment by the North Vietnamese, which was attracting international attention. By his determination, courage, resourcefulness, and devotion, Lieutenant Commander Ratzlaff reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces.
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit with Combat "V" to Lieutenant Commander Richard Raymond Ratzlaff (NSN: 0-681476), United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States while interned as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from March 1966 to February 1973. Under the most adverse of conditions, he resisted all attempts by the North Vietnamese to use him in causes detrimental to the United States, never wavering in his devotion and loyalty to the United States. In an outstanding and tireless fashion he served as an educator to provide diversion and constructive rehabilitative thinking to his fellow prisoners during their long internment. Despite harsh treatment and a lack of material aids, he devoted long hours toward improving their morale and well-being. His extraordinary skill, resourcefulness, and dedication to duty throughout his lengthy confinement reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces. (Lieutenant Commander Ratzlaff is authorized to wear the Combat "V".)
