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.
Vietnam War Col. Rattan served as commander of the
1st Brigade,
1st Cavalry Division from April 1967 to March 1968. 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. 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.
Post Vietnam Rattan was promoted to Major General and commanded the
8th Infantry Division from August 1970 until May 1972. ==Death==