WWII vet BMC Ratke honored at Oxford Vet's Home
Frank Speziale photo
OXFORD – 101-year-old BMC Joseph W. Ratke was celebrated at the New York State Veteran's Home in Oxford on Saturday during a Fleet Reserve Association (FRA) plaque presentation in his honor.
A veteran of World War II, BMC Joseph “Tug-master” Ratke was greeted by family, friends, and a former shipmate at the ceremony.
Serving in the Navy from 1934 to 1953, Ratke was assigned with transporting torpedoes during the last world war. He also served at stations in Guam and Saipan.
Today, BMC Ratke remains a member of the FRA, Branch 023 in Buffalo, NY.
Present at the ceremony were: former-FRA Regional President Donna Jansky; former-FRA Regional President Floyd Hunt; FRA Branch 023 Shipmate Abe Zieno; Subvet member Henri Carrere, BlueStar mother Denise Slack; USMC Veteran Raymond Vosburgh; and US Army Veteran John Pelosi Sr.
Also present were BMC Ratke's daughter, Susan Goodrich, of Sidney, NY, and granddaughter, Robin Goodrich, of Danbury, CT.
A native of Buffalo, Ratke now resides at the New York State Veteran's Home in Oxford.
BMC Joseph W. Ratke, seated, accepts his plaque on behalf of the Fleet Reserve Association on Saturday, August 26.
OXFORD – 101-year-old BMC Joseph W. Ratke was celebrated at the New York State Veteran's Home in Oxford on Saturday during a Fleet Reserve Association (FRA) plaque presentation in his honor.
A veteran of World War II, BMC Joseph “Tug-master” Ratke was greeted by family, friends, and a former shipmate at the ceremony.
Serving in the Navy from 1934 to 1953, Ratke was assigned with transporting torpedoes during the last world war. He also served at stations in Guam and Saipan.
Today, BMC Ratke remains a member of the FRA, Branch 023 in Buffalo, NY.
Present at the ceremony were: former-FRA Regional President Donna Jansky; former-FRA Regional President Floyd Hunt; FRA Branch 023 Shipmate Abe Zieno; Subvet member Henri Carrere, BlueStar mother Denise Slack; USMC Veteran Raymond Vosburgh; and US Army Veteran John Pelosi Sr.
Also present were BMC Ratke's daughter, Susan Goodrich, of Sidney, NY, and granddaughter, Robin Goodrich, of Danbury, CT.
A native of Buffalo, Ratke now resides at the New York State Veteran's Home in Oxford.
BMC Joseph W. Ratke, seated, accepts his plaque on behalf of the Fleet Reserve Association on Saturday, August 26.
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