USS SLC..."Enlisted Navy"...William J. Ratliff, S1cGM

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Wm. J. "Bill" Ratliff passed away on June 30th, 2013. Info.from dau. Helen Patten

Hi Sandy

I was on board the Salt Lake City during WWII.

I am not sure just when I came on board, however, it was either in Dec. of 44 or Jan. of 1945.

My date of active service: 18 May 1944
HONORABLY DISCHARGED: 1st day of June 1946
I left the SLC when it left to be de-commissioned. I had enough "points" at that time to be separated from the Navy.

I went through Boot Camp at Camp Wallace , Texas. From there I went to Gunners Mate School at Farragut, Idaho. After school, I went on a Transport to Pearl. I was suppose to get off at Pearl for Amphibious training....THANK GOODNESS my orders were changed..!!! I was to be sent for Fleet replacement. We left Pearl and went to Ulithi where I went on board the SLC...

I was in Division "V" on board ship. I was a Gunner on a 5" 25 gun. I did have a lot of pictures and a history of the ship, but I lost a lot of things in a fire when I was in college. I still have a few pictures that I would share if you are interested.

Most of the young men I knew were in Division V. We were all rather young then. I was seventeen. I would like very much to hear from anyone that knew me or I knew them. I enjoyed reading all the things about the Salt Lake City on the internet.

Good Sailing,

Bill Ratliff

Well here goes!!!! I was still rather wild when I came out of the Navy. It took me awhile to get my feet on the ground. I started to college at North Texas State University in January of 1949. I majored in Elementary Administration and graduated in January of 1952..I started teaching in Dallas the day after I graduated.

I met Peggy in DALLAS and we were married on November 1, 1952. We had two children while in Dallas, a girl and a boy. We named them Helen Ann and Bill.

I taught in Dallas until 1957 and then we moved to Houston. I taught in Houston until 1970. At that time I went into Administration and took a Principalship in Sour Lake , Texas.... While in Houston , we had another child and we named her Jane.

We stayed in Sour Lake for two years. The family didn't like it there .....so we went to Rockport, Texas. Now it's 1972.. I was Principal of Rockport Elementary for nine years and Elementary Curriculum Director for three.

Oh!!! I almost forgot.. I got my Masters Degree from Sam Houston State University in August of 1970..Back to Rockport......The School District in Aransas Pass wanted me to come to their District. and Peggy and I moved to Aransas Pass in 1985. I was Principal of H T Faulk Elementary School until I retired in 1997.

After I retired we moved to Dale , Texas. We wanted to be more centrally located to be closer to our children and grandchildren.

Helen has two girls and lives in Houston. Bill has two boys and lives in Austin. Jane has a boy and two girls and lives in Rockport.

Peggy and I stay busy with our fruit trees, garden, and crafts. I still do some teaching at a prison in Lockhart. In fact, I'll teach tomorrow. The name of the prison is Wackenhut Correctional Facility.

WELL you now have the story of my life..LET ME TELL YOU IT HAS BEEN GREAT!!!!!!!

The GOOD LORD put me on this earth to complete certain tasks. I am so far behind now I'll never die!!!!!!!!

Bill