Georgie Ratterman

Early years

Ratterman grew up in Nashville, Tennessee. He prepped at Spring Hill College in Alabama, entering in 1912. There he played center and guard.

Ratterman joined the 96th Aero Squadron, Air Service, United States Army , Kelly Field, TX in 1917. As a First Lieutenant, and pilot he flew with this unit, renamed the 96th Bombardment Squadron, he was reportedly the youngest American pilot to fly in the war at the age of 19.( Wings of Honor,James Sloan, pg 183). He was shot down and taken prisoner 7/10/18. His capture is possibly with the group of 6 planes shotdown on this date in the Toul Sector, mentioned in the wiki 96th Aero Squadron entry. America's First Air War, Terry Treadwell, p.142 reports "...Landshut, Bavaria...the old castle on the hill...which had been set aside for American aviation officers. There were eighteen of them there....pilots and observers of the 96th Aero Squadron who had been captured on 10 July." George Ratterman is mentioned as part of the group. Lt Puryear later led a group of un-named Americans to escape. My family oral history is that George had escaped the castle.

Georgia Tech

Ratterman was a prominent end for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets of the Georgia Institute of Technology. In 1938, Ratterman was selected as an end for an all-time Tech football team 1892-1921 "prehistoric era" published in its yearbook.

1920

The 1920 season was William Alexander's first as head coach. The Tech team went 8–1 with its only blemish a controversial 10–3 loss to Pitt. Ratterman caught appendicitis or had some stomach pain he experienced a German war prison yet still managed to play the last two games; and was selected All-Southern by various selectors including Charley Moran. Ratterman caught appendicitis and still managed to play the last two games.