Family, Friend, Brother at Arms  / Jerry Murtland (Wife's Cousin )
I just found out about his annual golf memorial went to look for more info online and found this website. I can't tell you how low my heart feels right now after seeing all of mom's posts. I didn't get to know Brandon as much as I would have liked to but I will never forget the times I did know him. And he was definately always there for you when you needed him. Melissa always says how great of a friend and cousin he was growing up. If I knew nothing more about him than he was my brother at arms I would love him to the day that I die. But I do know more and there's alot to be said for Brandon. I wont pretend to know them all but I will say he is a better man than most and a very loved family member of ours. God bless you Brandon we love and miss you. -Jerry Close

Your Cries  / Susan Coats (Mom)

I continue to fight for your honor your name, with a city still failing to take any blame. You talked to co-workers, reporters, the press, all knew you were under unbearable stress. You wrote letters so pleading expressing your pain; you just wanted your job not fortune or fame. When you were denied they stripped you of pride and your pain greatly grew, sadly they knew. No more could you stand, too much for one man so my Hero my son used his own gun to make the pain go away so other vets would be saved. His last words were that he hoped his death would help others. God, make it worth being a childless mother.

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The Soldier by Robrt Blackwell written for Brandon  / Susan Coats (Mother)
The Soldier



Consider Lt. Brandon Ratliff:
A loved son
A liked friend
A loyal citizen
And like many special people
A soldier when called upon
To defend and protect
When the horn of battle is sounded
And the legions are summoned
To go to war
Leaving behind home and hearth
And the comforts of mundane life.

When the trumpet sounded
The soldier arose from the bed
Of his peace and comfort
And journeyed to the field of battle
Not to kill or injure
But to help gather the broken bodies
Of his fellows and others sacrificed
On the altar of mighty and insatiable Ares.

The soldier returned to his home
Spent by the rigors
Tortured by the terrors
And haunted by the horrors
Of a land stripped bare of serenity
And ravaged not by natural forces
But the unnatural need to prove the point
Of which king’s sword is mightier.

What, then, did the loyal soldier come home to?

A life forever altered
By the broken promise
Of a city government
Sworn to uphold the law
And protect not only the frail
But also the loyal knights called to serve
In times of the nation’s need for them.


The local baron held a plum in his hand
To offer as a reward for faithful service
When the trumpet sounded
And the soldier marched to battle
The plum was given to another
Leaving the knight to cry out for justice

Government, like potty training,
Is never complete until the paperwork is done
And the baron tut-tutted
That the soldier failed to write his name
Upon the plum to claim it
And thus failed to wipe the city’s behind
With clean paperwork.

Imagine the soldier’s defeat:
His heart broken by war
And his spirit broken by the injustice
Of the letter of the law without the spirit
Thus the knight broke his own body
And sacrificed himself on Ares’ altar
Leaving a heartbroken mother
Crying out for justice
From a city that can now never grant it.

Loyalty is a very precious thing
Easily destroyed when injustice is repaid for it.

***
Brandon Ratliff was an Army Reserve lieutenant employed by my city's health department. He was to have received a promotion to a supervisory position but was mobilized to Afghanistan in the fall of 2002 before he could begin the new job.
Upon his return in September 2003, Brandon was told that he had to stay in his current position because the health department gave the position to someone else, justifying this action in the fact that he had not signed paperwork officially accepting the promotion.
Torn by depression from his experiences in Afghanistan, and defeated by the lack of financial resources to seek legal action in the matter, Brandon took his own life on March 18, 2004.
© 2004 by Robert E. Blackwell

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My Friend  / Your Friend (Friend)
He commanded the Army Reserve's 909th Forward Surgical Team in Afghanistan.  The unit he commanded provides medical care on the front lines, and Brandon Ratliff's duties included retrieving wounded soldiers from the battlefield and tallying the dead and wounded.  Brandon spent 9 months in Afghanistan organizing the medical unit and, when he had to, picking up and carrying soldiers broken by helicopter crashes and land mines. He did his duty and more. He was decorated 8 times. Upon returning home from war, Brandon was denied the promotion and pay raise he was promised by his employer before being deployed.  Depressed from his experience on active duty, hopelessness set in, and on Thursday, March 18, 2004 Lt. Brandon Ratliff committed suicide.  Lt. Ratliff graduated from Groveport Madison High School in 1992 and received a Bachelors Degree in Health Administration from Franklin University in 2000. He was an employee of the Columbus Public Health Department as a STD Intervention Specialist.  He was committed to helping people and was a highly respected and greatly loved member of his family, community and country.  He is beloved by his mother, father, step father, grandmother, uncles, aunts, cousins, many other family members; best friend, and countless other friends, comrades and co-workers.  1st LT.BRANDON L. RATLIFF SERVED IN AFGHANISTAN OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM ONLY TO COME HOME AND FIGHT ANOTHER BATTLE WITH THE JOB HE LEFT BEHIND. MAY HE REST IN PEACE AND KNOW HE IS MUCH LOVED AND MISSED. Close

Interesting Pastime  / Susan Coats (Mom)

What do I do now that your gone? Well, when there is nothing else going on, which is quite often, I sit in a corner and I cry until I am to numb to feel.  Paralyzed, motionless for awhile nothing moving inside or out.  Then I think of how much I miss you. Then I feel fear, pain, lonliness and desolation. Then I cry until I am too numb to feel. 

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GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN  / JOYCE BLANKENSHIP (AUNT)
BRANDON I WAS SITTING HERE TODAY LOOKING AT YOUR LITTLE STATUE WITH THE FLAG. IVE NEVER KNOWN ANYONE AS PATRIOTIC AS YOU WERE. EVEN AS A CHILD. YOU HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THE LITTLE SOLDIER.  YOU ARE AND ALWAYS WILL BE MY LITTLE HERO. I HOPE TO SEE YOU IN HEAVEN SOMEDAY. GOD BLESS YOU BRANDON. LOVE AUNT JOYCE Close

Birthday 2008  / Susan Coats (Mom)

I think of you on this day you were born. I never thought it would be a day to mourn. Your face so angelic, your eyes so bright I never saw such a beautiful sight. There you were looking up at me, I never knew what love could be. Throughout your life what joy you gave me. I was happier then anyone had the right to be. My baby boy then my handsome young man, my life my Hero always your biggest fan.  Today I'll lay flowers on your grave and kneel down to God and pray. Please take care of my handsome young son. His battle he lost our hearts he all won.

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2008 Memorial  / Susan Coats (Mom)
Your never forgotten, your with us everyday. Your song goes not unsung it helps us find our way. We carry out your mission so others suffer not. Your Dignity and Honor was all that you had sought. Your battles fought so hard your cries left so ignored. You only wanted peace, not another war. But peace they would not give you so you suffered all you could. Soon your battles ended, but ours never would. We miss our Hero so handsome brave and good. Our tears will never end and their tears never should.  Close

My Child on Mother's Day  / Susan Coats (Mom)

What is Mother's Day with out you Brandon?  Just another day to be in pain like yesterday and tomorrow.  I can't stand this world without you in it.  It's not as nice, not as good.  You made my life a blessing while I had you here and without you now only the nighmare of losing you remains.  A nightmare I can never awake from.  What sustains me now is knowing we will be together again one day.  Without that thought another breath I could not take. 

You should have been with me today.  You would have brought me flowers and I would have hugged and kissed you.  I'm not suppose to endure this day without you.  It is so hard.  I love and miss you every second of everyday.  In my sleep I cry out for you.  In my days I weep silently so others can not hear me.  

You were taken from me to soon and I cannot get over losing you.

 

 

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We Walk This Road Together  / Patty J. Allen's Mom (POS)
Susie,

I think Brandon and Allen were both gentle souls and their hearts to tender for this world.  I pray that they have found the peace and healing that they could not find here.

You have become my sister in grief and I think our son's are now brothers in the home of their Heavenly Father.

You and I walk this long and winding road. Please take my hand when you need the extra support.

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2008 March Memorial  / Your Mom (Mom)

As a baby I knew he was a angel. I could almost see the halo. He always bought me joy and laughter and gave me so many hugs. I was intrigued with his smile and angelic eyes and all the love he held. The little angel grew into a fine young man that I was always so proud of. My fine young man went to war and when he returned the laughter was gone. His eyes so empty and his heart so sad. My fine young man was now a Hero. He needed mending and peace as he tried to hold onto his dignity. He was denied that from the city he loved. I looked at my Hero as he lay in his casket and I saw a angel again. My fine young man, my Hero, my angel.  Forever he'll be my angel, my fine young man and my Hero.  

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IN MEMORY  / Joyce Blankenship (aunt)
BRANDON, LAST NIGHT WE WATCHED OLD VHS TAPES OF YOU IN CANADA, TO SEE YOU SO FULL OF LIFE BROUGHT BACK SO MANY MEMORIES. I WOULD GIVE ANYTHING TO GO BACK IN TIME AND DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN. I PRAY THAT YOU ARE AT PEACE. YOU WILL ALWAYS BE IN OUR HEARTS. YOU WILL ALWAYS BE YOUNG AND HANDSOME. I HOPE TO SEE YOU AGAIN IN HEAVEN. LOVE AUNT JOYCE Close

The Hero  / Your Mom
He was the best of the best a man to be admired.  He fought to the end till he grew way to tired.  His bravery, patriotism, honor and life were examples to make us all think twice.  Our lives forever shattered missing our Hero so young.  His life cut so short his sung so unsung.  A battle he fought in a far away land was not near the battle his employer had planned.  His pride and honor and dignity robbed, by a city that wouldn't give the Hero his job.  The soldier so weary, saddened, alone, merely just wanted to be welcomed back home.  He's gone we weep no end to our tears.  He cried out for help why didn't they hear?     Close

Does Anyone Care  / Your Mom
Does anyone care about the Hero so young who came home from war and used his own gun?  His spirit so broken his heart shattered too, he cried out for help, sadly she knew.  A history of being exposed to Vets was Dr. Long's decision really her best?  To let the Hero suffer day after day.  not even a kind word did she say.  Why would a Hero have to fight for his job?  Why would anyone want to rob the Hero of pride dignity and respect when he gave his country all of his best?  Now a mother forever grieves her child is gone by a city denying they did any wrong. They say I need to forgive the ignorance of others but I am left a childless mother. No sorry's from them have I ever heard, like Brandon, not even one kind word. May He rest in peace but I never will as this wasn't God's plan just the ignorance of man.  Close

If / Your Mom
Had I of known that you were leaving I would have savored every minute with all my being.   I would have hugged and held you with all my might.   You couldn't leave I'd hold you so tight.   If I'd had known your pain was so great I'd lay down my life to change your fate.   If I'd of had just one more day I would have have saved you I'd find a way. 

I'f I would have hurried a little bit more I would have made it to your door.  I'd take your pain away from you as my love would get you through.   I'd tell you how we all love you so and I would die if you would go.

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My Hero  / Joyce Blankenship (aunt)
BRANDON, IF THEY PASS THIS LAW FOR THE VETS, THEN YOU'VE WON YOUR FIRST BATTLE. IM PRAYING THAT YOU ARE AT PEACE TODAY AND EVERYDAY. I PRAY THAT YOU'RE LOOKING DOWN ON US AND SMILING. I PRAY THAT WE WILL MEET EACH OTHER IN HEAVEN. UNTIL THEN, REST IN PEACE, KNOW THAT YOU ARE LOVED, MISSED,AND WE'LL MEET AGAIN SOMEDAY. AUNT JOYCE Close

Fear / Susan Coats (Mom)
I fear not that all will leave me not receive me or disbelieve me.  I fear not to stand alone on a island top a mountain or in my home.  I fear not for what is called my life nor think twice if I roll the dice.  I fear not that they will curse me reverse me hurt me or even nurse me.  I fear not what I have lost or the cost the price I've paid the path's been laid.  I fear not the day tomorrow the endless sorrow each day so borrowed.  I fear no foe no man their vengence no hand. 

I fear NO justice no honor another soldier laid to rest burying our best.  I fear the unheard cries of soldiers the wounds inflicted their lives predicted.  I fear a country who's ears our deaf who's heads are turned till there's nothing left.  I fear the lives so wasted the families who's pain never end knowing it happens again and again. Close

BRANDON'S MESSAGE TO ME IN A LETTER WRITTEN WHILE IN AFGHANISTAN  / Susan Coats (Mom)

Human beings are like part of a body

Created from the same essence

When one part is hurt and in pain

The others cannot remain in peace and be quiet

MY SON'S WORDS TO ME I'LL KEEP IN MY HEART ALWAYS.
THIS IS WHY I CANNOT BE QUIET AND WILL FIGHT FOR HIM TILL HIS BATTLE IS WON.

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 / KATHY MORAN (ACQUAINTANCE)

DEAR BRANDON.

I MET YOU ONCE AT YOUR MOM'S HOUSE, YOU DROPED IN FOR A VISIT. I THOUGHT TO MYSELF WHAT A NICE GUY YOU WERE. YOU HAD HUMOR, POLITENESS, CHARM & FREINDLINESS . I THANK YOU FOR GOING TO WAR FOR US, NOT ONCE BUT TWICE.  YOUR MOM MISSES YOU SO VERY MUCH.
MAY YOU BE WAITING FOR HER WHEN SHE GETS TO HEAVEN.
GOD BLESS AND KEEP YOU. 
KATHY

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Precious Nephew  / Gayle White (Aunt)

Dearest Brandon,  I was sitting here thinking of you and realized that it's three years today, that we lost a very special member of our family.  You are however in our hearts and thoughts always.  As Joyce said,  we were talking last night about when all of you kids were little (oh, if we could only do it again) and were laughing so hard at some of your antics.  You have truly left part of yourself with each and every one of us.  We also talked about what a fine young man you grew up to be.  Outstanding citizen and soldier, yet so humble.  You're the man, Brandon!  Love and Miss you so,  Aunt Gayle Uncle Bill, Brad, Gina & Krista 

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