I was just alerted to the fact that one of my 3rd cousins, Thomas Arthur Ratzlaff, was a Navy SEAL. Tommy was an operative of famed SEAL Team 6 which has been particularly active in Middle Eastern theaters these past several years.
Tommy was a great grandson of Adam J Ratzlaff, younger brother of my great grandfather Andreas J Ratzlaff. His grandfather Arthur Ratzlaff was a cousin to my grandfather Albert Ratzlaff. Tommy was born in 1976 in Arkansas and unfortunately met his end in 2011 in Afghanistan. A Time Magazine article about his death can be found here.
Thanks to Dennis Quiring for alerting me to my relationship with Tommy. I'm honored to have a hero like him in the family. Rest in peace, Tommy, and thank you for your sacrifice.
