My name is John Ratliff, and I was a member of Explorer Post 18 in the early 1960s. I was a Senior Member of the Post for several years, and this experience set me up for service in the U.S. Air Force's Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Service (ARRS) as a Pararescueman (PJ). I have a lot of stories to tell about the Post, but will detail some of those later.

First, let me say that I appreciate the history information you have posted on the website, and especially the mention of my father, Donald E. Ratliff, Sr. He did indeed write a book, Map, Compass and Campfire. He shared his expertise in map work and the outdoors with Explorer Post 18. I found your web site after a friend at work suggested I contact the Washington County Sheriff's Office about their Explorer Search and Rescue Post. I did, then decided to use Google to see whether Explorer Post 18 had a website. It looks good, but there is a lot of history missing.

Let me fill it in a bit with the information from my Eagle Court of Honor, held Tuesday, February 25, 1964 at the Morningside Methodist Church. Here is what it states (my Dad kept it, and I have the actual mimiographed handout in front of me). I'll put all the information below:

That was the program for that night, so long ago. I hope that seeing these names helps you to put together some of the history of the post. Along with this program, my parents saved the enclosed photograph of the Court of Honor. Of the two scouts in front on the left, Bob Huskey is on the left, and I am next to him. The scout on the far right is my brother, Donald E. Ratliff Jr. The other scouts, I recognize but cannot name.

I had a very good experience in the USAF, serving in a number of areas of the world, including Vietnam. My parents were not thrilled that I had volunteered to go to Vietnam, and when I finally had an interesting mission. We flew north, to about 40 miles from Hanoi, to pick up two USAF pilots who had ejected from their fighter after it was hit over Hanio in 1971. I really did not want to tell Mom and Dad about it, and worry them more than they already were, so I wrote instead to Bill McVay. I sent him a four page, hand written letter describing the mission. I found out later, when Bill got it he immediately called my Dad and told him he had a letter from me. Dad and Bill read it at the same time, which was kind of funny as my last statement was something to the effect that I did not want Bill to show it to Dad until I was back home. They had a good laugh over that one. Unfortunately, I think that letter has been lost.

Seven years ago, I began writing a book on my rescue experience. It's tentative title is Between Air and Water, the Memior of a USAF Pararescueman. In it, I did write about Explorer Post 18. I have enclosed that part of a chapter for you to use on your website if you wish. I don't know when, or if ever, I'll finish the book; I'm currently about 3/4 way through the first draft. But sometime I need to do some work on it.

That's all for now. I do have some more photos from that time period, and will look them up if you wish. I did note that there were no photos of Bill McVay on the website. Hopefully, that can be taken care of.

John

John C. Ratliff
Beaverton