World War II Honoree

Richard Monroe Curtis

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Clio, West Virginia

Honored By

Richard E. Manzer

WAS WORKING AT A DEFENSE PLANT AS A CERTIFIED WELDER IN CHARLESTON, WEST VIRGINIA WHEN PEARL HARBOR WAS ATTACKED. IN 1942 WHEN HE FELT HE WAS ABOUT TO BE DRAFTED, HE JOINED THE NAVY'S CONSTRUCTION BATTALION (SEABEES). RECEIVED BASIC TRAINING IN VIRGINIA, THEN SENT TO QUONSET, RHODE ISLAND FOR SEABEE CONSTRUCTION ORIENTATION AND THEN WENT BY TRAIN FOR 8 DAYS TO THE NAVAL BASE IN PORT HUENEME, CALIFORNIA. BASED IN NEW CALEDONIA IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC. REPAIRED DAMAGED SHIPS AND BUILT AIRSTRIPS AND CAMPS FOR THE MARINES IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER. OVERSEAS FOR 4 YEARS. WAS IN GUAM WHEN JAPAN SURRENDERED. CAME BACK TO THE STATES IN 1946 AND OPENED A WELDING SHOP WHILE HE SERVED IN THE NAVY RESERVE. SERVED A TOTAL OF 9 YEARS OVERSEAS WITH THE FIGHTING SEABEES DURING WORLD WAR TWO AND KOREAN WAR.