Donald V. Rattan Explained

Donald V. Rattan
Birth Date:12 September 1924
Birth Place:Fort Benning, Georgia
Death Place:San Antonio, Texas
Placeofburial:Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery
Nickname:Snapper
Allegiance:United States of America
Serviceyears:1940–1973
Rank: Major General
Battles:Vietnam War
Awards:Silver Star

Donald Volney Rattan (September 12, 1924March 8, 2017) was a United States Army Major General.

Early life and education

Rattan was born at Fort Benning, Georgia on 12 September 1924 to William Volney Rattan, an Infantry officer, and Rose Harriett Ross.

Career

Rattan attended the United States Military Academy graduating in the class of 1945.

In May 1960 then Lieutenant Colonel Rattan wrote "Antiguerrilla Operations: A Case Study from History" a study of U.S. Cavalry General George Crook's Indian War campaigns of the 1870s which was published in the United States Army Command and General Staff College journal Military Review.

In August 1964, LCol Rattan was serving with the US Consulate in Bukavu in eastern Congo where he advised Government forces in the defense of the city during the Simba rebellion and in the rescue of western hostages in Operation Dragon Rouge.[1]

Vietnam War

Col. Rattan served as commander of the 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division from April 1967 to March 1968.[2] In November 1967 the 1st Brigade was placed under the operational control of the 4th Infantry Division and saw combat at the Battle of Dak To.[3] In late January 1968, following the transfer of the entire 1st Cavalry Division north to I Corps he led the brigade in the successful defense of Quảng Trị City during the Tet Offensive.[4]

Post Vietnam

MGen Rattan commanded the 8th Infantry Division from August 1970 until May 1972.

Later life

Rattan died on 8 March 2017 in San Antonio, Texas and was buried at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.

Notes and References

  1. Book: Villafana, Frank. Cold War in the Congo: The Confrontation of Cuban Military Forces, 1960-1967. Routledge. 2017. 9781351313308.
  2. Book: 1st Air Cavalry Division: Memoirs of the First Team, Vietnam, August 1965-December 1969. Turner Publishing Company. 1995. 9781563111808. 44.
  3. Book: de Chaunac, Jacques-François . The American Cavalry in Vietnam: "First Cav". Turner Publishing Company. 2003. 9781563118906. 196.
  4. Book: Pearson, Willard. The War in the Northern Provinces 1966–1968. United States Army Center of Military History. 1975. 9781780392486. 53.