The Most Dangerous Assignment (Guest Post)

Radioman Second Class (RM2c) Walter Carl Rathsack, identified above, was selected for the tenth class of the On-The-Roof Gang training that began in March 1933.

Along with the other seven Radiomen in the class, he graduated in June 1933 and was ordered to Station BAKER in Guam. In the years leading up to World War II, Petty Officer Rathsack performed Radio Intelligence operations in Guam, Philippines and Hawaii.

RM1c Rathsack was at Station HYPO in Hawaii during the attack on Pearl Harbor, and he wanted to get into the fight by going back to sea into the fight. In early 1942, he volunteered for duty on several Radio Intelligence Units (RIUs) deployed on board U.S. Navy ship for tactical intercept during combat, but he was never selected for the duty.