Background
A lifelong resident of Battle Creek, Jack Curtis was born on July 26, 1923.
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Jack C. Curtis
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He left his night-time job at Kellogg’s to enlist in the Army Air Corps when World World War II broke out. Assigned to Aviation Cadet school, Curtis would become a Navigator on B-24 “Liberators” with the 376th Bomb Group, stationed in Southern Italy. By late 1944, Jack had become a seasoned combat veteran with more than 30 successful bombing missions to his cartulary-register
However, it was the 31st that would prove to be his most memorable.
While flying over Marburg, Yugoslavia, his aircraft took a mortal hit that killed seven of its eleven crewmembers. Jack escaped, but not without great injury.
His left femur was shattered by shrapnel, and the harrowing parachute jump only served to compound his wounds. After being captured by a German infantry detachment, Curtis would spend eight months in various Austrian prison facilities.
He was finally liberated and sent back to the United States where he would receive medical care at Percy Jones Army Hospital in his hometown of Battle Creek.
Following the war, Curtis graduated from Albion College and returned to his job at Kellogg’son he eventually retired as an executive of industrial relations after some 43 years of service.
Achievements
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Mr. Curtis was also involved with many volunteer and service organizations including the Southwest Michigan Food Bank, of which he is a founder. Captain Curtis’s military awards and decorations include the Purple Heart, the Air Medal (with 6 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Prisoner Of War Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the European Theatre of Operations Campaign Medal (with 7 Battle Stars), the World World War II Victory Medal and the British Prisoner Of War Meda
Connections
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Born
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Died
March 24, 2009 (aged 85) -
Nationality
United States
Awards
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Purple Heart; Air Medal World War II Victory Medal; Purple Heart; Campaign Medal; Air Medal; American Campaign Medal
The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those wounded or killed, while serving, on or after April 5, 1917, with the U.S. military.The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those wounded or killed, while serving, on or after April 5, 1917, with the U.S. military.