Charles Clarence Curtis

Charles C. Curtis (October 29, 1893 – June 24, 1960) was an American newspaper executive and military officer from Pennsylvania. The longtime advertising manager of Allentown's The Morning Call, Curtis was also a career officer in the United States Army and Pennsylvania Army National Guard, Curtis served from 1917 to 1953 and attained the rank of major general. A veteran of the Mexican Border War, World War I, and World War II, his awards included the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, and French Croix de guerre.

A native of Wiconisco, Pennsylvania, Curtis was raised and educated in Williamstown. After graduating from high school in 1909, he was employed in a drug store and as a teacher. In 1916, he joined the Pennsylvania National Guard's 4th Infantry Regiment; he was soon promoted to the noncommissioned officer ranks and assigned as regimental supply sergeant during Mexican Border War duty in Texas. During World War I, he received his second lieutenant's commission and served in France as a member of the 109th Machine Gun Battalion.

After the First World War, Curtis pursued a newspaper career as manager of the advertising department at The Morning Call in Allentown. He also continued his military career as a member of the 213th Coast Artillery Regiment. Curtis advanced through the ranks during the 1920s and 1930s, and was assigned as the regiment's commander in 1938. During World War II, he initially commanded the 213th Coast Artillery, followed by postings as commander of the 33rd Coast Artillery Brigade in San Diego, the post at Fort Bliss, Texas, and the 51st Anti-aircraft Artillery Brigade in Europe.

Following the Second World War, Curtis commanded the 51st Anti-aircraft Artillery Brigade when it was organized as a National Guard unit. In 1947, he was assigned to command the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, an assignment he carried out while continuing to command the 51st AAA Brigade. In 1953 he was appointed to command the 28th Infantry Division when it was reconstituted in the National Guard following federal service in West Germany during the Korean War. Curtis retired from the military in late 1953. He died in Allentown on June 24, 1960, and was buried at Greenwood Cemetery in Allentown.

Early life and civilian career Charles Clarence Curtis was born in Wiconisco, Pennsylvania on October 29, 1893, the son of Harrison "Harry" D. Curtis and Ellen "Ella" (Kniley) Curtis. He was raised and educated in Williamstown, and was a 1909 graduate of Williamstown High School. After graduating, Curtis was employed at a Williamstown drug store and as a school teacher.

In January 1922, Curtis began working in the advertising department of The Morning Call, Allentown's morning daily newspaper. By 1926, Curtis was the manager of the advertising department, and he continued in this position until his death. He was also active in Allentown's civic and chartable causes, including serving on the city's traffic commission, leading the public campaign to finance completion of the city's hospital, and chairing the Lehigh Valley Thruway Committee. They divorced in 1920, and in 1921, he married Clara Horn. With his second wife, Curtis was the father of a son, Charles Harry Curtis. He retired as a colonel and was a recipient of the Silver Star and numerous other awards and decorations. The 4th Pennsylvania was soon called to federal service during the Mexican Border War, and performed patrol duties while based at Camp Stewart near El Paso, Texas. On February 22, 1937, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel and he continued to serve as executive officer. and assigned to command the 33rd Coast Artillery Brigade (Anti-aircraft Artillery), which was responsible for the aircraft defenses of the California coast near San Diego. In November 1943, Curtis was posted to Fort Bliss, Texas, where he was assigned as commander of the post. In January 1944, he became commander of the 51st Anti-aircraft Artillery Brigade, which took part in defending Allied positions in England, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Germany. He remained in command until the end of the war, and returned to the United States in September 1945. He reverted to his pre-war rank of colonel in early 1946, but was then promoted to permanent brigadier general in September 1946. Then in December 1947, Curtis was promoted to major general and assigned to command the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, a post in which he served while continuing to command the 51st AAA Brigade. When the Korean War began in 1950, the 51st Anti-aircraft Artillery Brigade was called to active service and Curtis remained in command as the brigade performed stateside duties at locations including Chicago. After becoming ill, he was released from active duty in July 1951 and returned to Allentown. In October 1953, Curtis retired from the military.

Death and burial

In March 1959, Curtis experienced a heart attack but recovered and continued working at The Morning Leader. The armory is the headquarters of the 213th Regional Support Group and the site of the 213th Regiment Museum.

Awards Curtis inspecting heavy barreled cal. 50 machine gun on improvised Anti-aircraft Artillery mount during World War II. Curtis's awards and decorations included the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, and French Croix de guerre with palm.

Legion of Merit citation "As Commanding General of an anti-aircraft artillery brigade charged with protection of vital airdromes, supply installations and lines of communication in England, France and Germany, from March 1944 through April 1945, General Curtis provided a uniformly impregnable defense against every effort of the German Air Force, which included flying bombs and jet-propelled fighters as well as conventional aircraft. By his untiring energy, professional leadership, self-sacrifice, and unusual professional skill, General Curtis inspired standards of performance which were an outstanding credit to the service, in spite of extremely adverse operating conditions. he has also contributed materially to the improved efficiency of anti-aircraft artillery, particularly in the field of early warning service. General Curtis' outstanding leadership and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Army."

Curtis's award was presented by Brigadier General William L. Richardson, commander of the IX Air Defense Command, in a ceremony at Kitzingen Army Airfield, Germany.

Effective dates of rank Curtis's effective dates of rank were:

Private to Sergeant, July 8, 1916 to August 4, 1917 Major General (retired): October 17, 1953