World War II Honoree

Robert Curtis

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Washington, District Of Columbia

Honored By

John Johnson

Relationship

Volunteer

SERVED AS A SERGEANT IN THE MARINE CORPS FROM NOVEMBER 7, 1942 TO APRIL 13, 1946. ENLISTED IN THE MARINE CORPS IN WASHINGTON, D.C. RECEIVED BASIC TRAINING AT THE MARINE CORPS BASE AT PARRIS ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA. SELECTED FOR TRAINING IN AVIATION AND WAS SENT TO JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA FOR AVIATION-RELATED TRAINING. DURING THE 13 WEEK TRAINING PROGRAM, HE LEARNED HOW TO PERFORM MAINTENANCE ON MARINE CORPS COMBAT AIRCRAFT. FOLLOWING TRAINING, ASSIGNED TO BASE OPERATIONS AT PARRIS ISLAND, WHERE HE SERVED FROM MID-1943 THROUGH APRIL 1945. RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF THE AIRFIELDS AND AIR BASE AT PARRIS ISLAND, AND THE MAINTENANCE OF MARINE CORPS TRAINER-AIRCRAFT. HE WAS ALSO TRAINED IN SEARCH-AND-RESCUE, AND PARTICIPATED IN SEARCH-AND-RESCUE OPERATIONS FOR MARINE AND NAVY PILOTS WHO CRASHED WHILE TRAINING AT PARRIS ISLAND. TRANSFERRED TO THE MARINE AIR BASE NEAR PEARL HARBOR, OAHU, HAWAII, WHERE HE SERVED IN THE HEADQUARTERS SQUADRON AND PERFORMED MAINTENANCE ON MARINE AIRCRAFT, INCLUDING THE GRUMMAN F-4 CORSAIR. SERVED IN HAWAII UNTIL APRIL 13, 1946, WHEN HE WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED. AWARDED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, THE AMERICAN THEATER SERVICE MEDAL, THE PACIFIC THEATER SERVICE MEDAL AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL.