World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
Robert Louis Curl
Branch of Service
U.S. Navy
Hometown
Warrior, Alabama
Honored By
Ralph Bozorth
HE RECEIVED BOOT TRAINING AT BAINBRIDGE, MARYLAND; NAVIGATIONAL RADAR TRAINING AT WOODS HOLE, MASSACHUSETTS AND AMPHIBIOUS TRAINING AT LITTLE CREEK, VIRGINIA. HIS LANDING CRAFT CONTROL (LCC-1O) WAS ASSIGNED TO LEAD IN THE FIRST WAVE ON OMAHA BEACH, NORMANDY ON D-DAY AND STAY THERE 1,000 YARDS OFF THE BEACH FOR EACH SUCCESSIVE WAVE TO FOLLOW US. AFTER THREE WEEKS, HE WAS DISPATCHED TO CORSICA AND SARDINIA TO PREPARE TO LEAD THE FIRST WAVE IN THE INVASION OF SOUTHERN FRANCE. THREE MONTHS AFTER THE SUCCESSFUL INVASION, HE WAS SENT HOME TO THE STATES ON 30 DAYS LEAVE. HE WAS THEN ASSIGNED TO A NEW ROCKET SHIP LSM(R)-408, WHICH WAS EQUIPPED WITH GYRO-STABILIZED ROCKET LAUNCHERS, WHICH WENT THROUGH THE PANAMA CANAL HEADED FOR THE WEST COAST. THERE HE PRACTICED SHELLING SAN CLEMENTE ISLAND IN PREPARATION FOR THE INVASION OF JAPAN. HE HAD ALMOST REACHED ENIWETOK WHEN THE ATOMIC BOMB WAS DROPPED. HE WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN MARCH OF 1946.