During an operation in Afghanistan on November 26, 2008, Chief Petty Officer Ratzlaff demonstrated extraordinary heroism while reinforcing an assault on a fortified enemy machine gun nest. After multiple attempts to silence the machine gun, he gained entry through a hail of enemy fire. Without hesitation, he deliberately placed himself in harm’s way, neutralizing the nest while facing almost point blank fire. His heroic actions saved countless lives in the face of a determined enemy.