Capt. Gregory A. Ratzlaff, U.S.M.C (NCD)

(reprinted from TheOlympian.com, August 5, 2004)

South Sound couple's son, 36, killed in Iraq

CHRISTIAN HILL THE OLYMPIAN

A Marine officer whose parents live in Olympia was killed in a noncombat-related incident Tuesday in Iraq, the Defense Department announced.

Capt. Gregory A. Ratzlaff, 36, was assigned to the aviation combat element of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, north of San Diego.

A casualty notice from the Defense Department listed Olympia as Ratzlaff's hometown, but his father, Gary, said his son never lived in Olympia. Gary and his wife, Kathleen, moved to Olympia in 1992 after their son joined the military.

Further information about the death was unavailable Wednesday.

Ratzlaff, who was married, flew twin-rotored CH-46E Sea Knight helicopters in the Iraqi province of al-Najar. The unit arrived in Iraq last month.

Ratzlaff originally entered the service Aug. 29, 1990. His awards include two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, two National Defense Service Medals, a Southwest Asia Service Medal, a Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal and two Sea Service Deployment Ribbons.

Ratzlaff is the second soldier with local ties to be killed in Iraq.

In November, former Lacey resident Command Sgt. Maj. Cornell Gilmore was killed in a helicopter crash.