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LTC Stephen Douglas Curlee
to remember
Curlee, Jack Douglas, LTJG.
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Contact Info
Home Town Birmingham, AL
Date of Passing Sep 10, 2015
Location of Interment Elmwood Cemetery - Birmingham, Alabama
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
My father, Jack Douglas Curlee, died on September 10, 2015, in Cumming, GA. He was over ninety three years old and one of the Greatest Generation.
Stephen Douglas Curlee
Lieutenant Colonel
USA Retired
Other Comments:
Enlisted on 12 MAY '43, entered on active duty on 1 JUL '43 and was commissioned on 29 JUN '44. Released from active duty on 23 JUN '46 and was honorably discharged from the U.S. Naval Reserve on 1 SEP '55.
Flag of Japan denotes landing on Okinawa (including Ie Shima), a prefecture of Japan. Made numerous trips to Hawai'i, which at the time, was a territory of the United States. Made many trips to the individual and various islands of the Marshall Islands and the Northern Mariana Islands which are too small to appear on the map. The flag of Indonesia denotes a landing on Biak Island, which is part of Papua, a province of Indonesia.
Worst Moment USS LST-78 was caught in a typhoon off the Philippine Islands in 1944. The ship was carrying two pontoon bridges, and the heavy winds caused the chains to break loose on the starboard side pontoon. Everyone worked together to solve the ship threatening problem. The deck crew cut the remaining chains with torches to release the pontoon and Curlee's engineering crew adjusted ballast to keep the ship from listing too dangerously. All survived the scary ordeal. Curlee saw the USS Birmingham (CL-62) get hit by a Japanese kamikaze plane on 4MAY45 off Okinawa. The plane hit her starboard deck forward, carrying a 500 lb. bomb which penetrated to the sick bay three levels below deck before exploding. About 50 crew were killed in the attack. The plane's pilot was found dead in the water, having been ejected. She was able to steam to Pearl Harbor for repairs. Curlee said, "It was terrible to witness such an event."
Other Memories Jack Curlee was the engineering officer of USS LST-78. This vessel was laid down, 9FEB43, at Jeffersonville Boat & Machine Co., Jeffersonville, IN, launched, 28APR43, and commissioned USS LST-78, 8JUL43. During World War II, USS LST-78 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and earned five battle stars for World War II service. Additional information and photos of USS LST-78 and crew may be seen at http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/16/160078.htm
