Page 52 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2021- Online Magazine
P. 52
Charles Curtis
Hometown Hero
by Tekisha Curtis Thomas
was transferred Infantry Division. He also was
to Loring AFB, a switchboard operator in the
Maine for his 104th Engineer Company. In
first assignment. July 1971, Charles reenlisted for
There he became six more years. The military was
a part of the 3rd changing his life. When the end
Missile Battalion. of his second tour in Vietnam
In February 1963, came to an end, he was sent to
Charles was Fort Meade, Maryland as a Senior
transferred to Welder. He stayed there until
Zweibrücken Air October 1971 when he was sent
Base, Germany, back to Germany for his second
where he became tour abroad. This tour lasted
a launcher until October 1975.
crewman.
He stayed in Charles was at the top of his
Germany until game when it came to welding
December 1965. – so knowledgeable that he was
Shortly after, named a welding instructor at the
he became an very school that taught him so
AIT student in much. He became an instructor
welding school there until 1978. Before he was
at Fort Lewis, given his last assignment in
Washington. Germany, Charles flew home on
leave and married the love of his
Upon the life, Joyce Meeks, in December
completion of 1976. They had attended Slaton
e was born Charles Lee welding school,
Curtis on November Charles was sent back to Fort
H26, 1943, to Charlie and Lewis, Washington as a welder
Georgia Curtis, in Slaton and in the 45th Chemical Company.
raised on a farm near the small The next year, he was sent to
town of Wilson. His life wasn’t Vietnam for his first of several
always easy, but it was one that tours there. On his first tour, he
was filled with love and laughter. served one year and was able to
At the age of 14, Charles lost his enhance his skills as a welder.
mother to cancer, and his life He was so good at his job as a
was never the same. After his welder that he was sent back to
17th birthday, he convinced his Aberdeen, Maryland to become
father to give him permission to a welding instructor at the
join the Army. He saw it as an Aberdeen Proving Grounds. In
opportunity for a better future May 1968, Charles was promoted
and a wonderful career. to Platoon Sergeant. It was one
of many promotions.
Charles enlisted in the Army on
July 21, 1962, and by the 30th, he In July 1970, Charles was sent
was off to basic training at Fort back to Vietnam for his second
Leonard Wood, Missouri. After tour. While there, he was
completing boot camp, Charles made Senior Welder in the 5th
52 Lubbock Senior Link
