World War II Honoree

Dawson Thomas Curtis

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Alliance, Ohio

Honored By

Robert P. Curtis

Relationship

Son

DURING THE WINTER OF 1943, HE VOLUNTEERED TO ENTER OFFICER CANDIDATE SCHOOL OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY IN PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY. HE WAS COMMISSIONED AN ENSIGN IN THE IN THE SPRING OF 1943 AND WAS ASSIGNED AS THE SENIOR GUNNERY OFFICER ONBOARD A NAVAL MERCHANT MARINE VICTORY SHIP, WHICH WAS IMMEDIATELY DEPARTING GULFPORT, MISSISSIPPI FOR THE AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS, ASIATIC-PACIFIC ON THE SS RALPH T O’NEIL AT THE BEGINNING OF WWII. HE SPLIT HIS WAR TIME DUTY ALSO ONBOARD THE SS CHARLES N. MCGROARTY VICTORY SHIP IN THAT SAME AREA AND RETURNED TO ALLIANCE, OHIO THREE YEARS LATER IN THE SPRING OF 1946.