Second Lt. William Ratajczyk, a native of Athens, Wisconsin, is serving in the U.S. Marine Corps amongst sailors, Marines and guardsmen at Naval Aviation Schools Command (NASC) who are developing the skills needed to be a combat-ready aviation professional.
Ratajczyk, a 2011 graduate of Athens High School, graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in history in 2023. Ratajczyk joined the Marine Corps 13 years ago. Today, Ratajczyk is a student at NASC.
“I joined the Marine Corps because I am grateful for being in this nation, and I was upset by the 9/11 attacks,” Ratajczyk said. “My father spent some time in the Navy and impressed upon me that the Marines were the ones at the tip of the spear. I wanted to be around the best and be part of a group that would work as a team to rise to any challenge.” The skills and values needed to succeed in the military are similar to those found in Athens.
“In Athens, I worked various jobs that taught me to approach problems from different angles,” Ratajczyk said. “Wrestling in high school, guided by Coach Dale Westfall, had a lasting and significant impact. Mentors like him, Ryan Bargander and Kurt Schreiner, impacted me throughout my youth, more than they probably know. Their example influenced how I face challenges in life and the Marine Corps.”
Comments