Maurice E. Curts
Maurice E. Curts | |
---|---|
United States of America | |
Service/ | United States Navy |
Years of service | 1919–1960 |
Rank | Admiral |
Commands held | |
Battles/wars | World War I World War II |
Awards |
Maurice Edwin Curts (March 25, 1898 – February 15, 1976) was a four-star admiral in the United States Navy who served as commander in chief of the United States Pacific Fleet in 1958.
Early career
He was born in
His first assignment was aboard the light cruiser
Between 1926 and 1928 he studied the emerging technology of radio at the Naval Postgraduate School and Harvard University, developing expertise which eventually led to his assignment from June 1936 to May 1938 as Officer-in-Charge of the Radio and Sound Divisions at the Naval Research Laboratory, where his contributions to the development of radar earned him a commendation from the Secretary of the Navy.[3][5][6]
From 1938 to 1939 he commanded the destroyer
World War II
In June 1939, Curts was tapped to serve as communications officer on the staff of the new Commander
After Richardson was unexpectedly removed from command in January 1941, Curts hoped to leave the fleet staff and return to sea. When Richardson's replacement, Admiral Husband E. Kimmel, summoned Curts to the flagship and asked, "Young man, would you like to be on my staff?" Curts firmly answered, "Hell, no!" Taken aback, Kimmel retorted, "You've got to. There's no getting out of it." In reply, Curts muttered, "Oh, hell!" in tones of such disgusted resignation that everyone present, including Kimmel, burst out laughing.[8]
Attack on Pearl Harbor
At the beginning of the Japanese
After the attack, Curts discovered that civilian hysteria in Honolulu was being stoked by the local radio stations, which were broadcasting a series of well-intended messages that were designed to instruct and calm the population but were having the opposite effect. Curts telephoned the stations to "knock off the damned foolishness."[8]
Fleet communications officer
Following Kimmel's relief, Curts continued as communications officer on the staff of Kimmel's successor, Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, relaying messages to Nimitz from the field during the Battles of the Coral Sea and Midway. Curts was awarded the Bronze Star for organizing and establishing a more workable system of joint Army and Navy communications while communications officer for the Pacific Fleet.
In August 1942, Curts was summoned to Washington D.C. to join the staff of Admiral Ernest J. King, commander in chief of the United States Fleet. As communications officer for the United States Fleet, Curts received the Legion of Merit for his part in adopting successful communication agreements and plans between the military services of the United States and its Allies. Curts is credited with developing the numbering system for organizing fleets and task forces that is still used today.[3]
USS Columbia
He returned to the Pacific theater in 1944 as captain of the light cruiser
He was awarded the
On January 6, 1945, while supporting the landings at Lingayen Gulf, Columbia was struck by two kamikaze planes, suffering heavy damage and casualties. Swift damage control measures allowed Columbia to complete its bombardment and remain in action to support underwater demolition teams. Three days later, Columbia lay close inshore, with maneuverability hampered by the surrounding landing craft, when struck by a third kamikaze. Again, Columbia extinguished fires and repaired damage, and was able to complete its bombardment schedule within half an hour of being hit, before departing that night in escort of a group of unloaded transports.[10][11]
Later that year, as chief of staff and aide to the new Commander, Fast Carrier Task Force, Pacific Fleet, Vice Admiral Frederick C. Sherman, Curts attended the Japanese surrender ceremony aboard the battleship Missouri on September 2, 1945.[3]
Flag officer
After the war, he was commander of Cruiser Division Twenty in 1946; chief of Navy General Plans from 1947 to 1948; Force Commander, Operational Development Force,
From 1953 to 1955 he went to sea as Commander Cruisers-Destroyers, Pacific,
Curts returned to Pearl Harbor in 1955 as deputy commander in chief of the Pacific Fleet with the rank of vice admiral. He was promoted to admiral on April 29, 1957 upon assuming command of that fleet, though he continued to be titled deputy commander in chief since the title of Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet (CINCPACFLT) remained dual-hatted with the title of Commander in Chief, Pacific (CINCPAC),
Upon relinquishing command of the Pacific Fleet, Curts reverted to the rank of vice admiral for his final assignment as Commander,
Personal life
He married Nina (née Irvine) on August 16, 1919; she died in 1965 and he remarried to Fayette Hobbs (née Purcell) in January 1967. He had two sons: Navy officer Robert Irvine Curts and Daniel Curts.[2][3]
Awards and decorations
His decorations include two
- Navy Cross
- Navy Distinguished Service Medal with one Gold Star
- Silver Star
- Legion of Merit with two Gold Stars
- Bronze Star
- Purple Heart
He received a master's degree in electrical engineering from Harvard University in 1928.[2]
Namesake
He is the namesake of the guided-missile frigate Curts, whose crest contains a flaming bomb referring to his combat service in command of Columbia, flanked by sinusoidal waves intended to evoke his contributions to the development of radar.[15]
Retirement, death and burial
In retirement, he resided in Washington D.C. for many years, then moved to Rancho Santa Fe, California. He died at his vacation home at Las Gaviotas, Mexico at the age of 77,[3] and is buried with his first wife in Arlington National Cemetery.
References
- ^ Benson, Clyde E. (1908), Biographical History of Genesee County, Michigan, B.F. Bowen, p. 206
- ^ a b c d e f g Who's Who In America, vol. 36, Chicago: Marquis Who's Who, 1970–1971, p. 512
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Adm. Maurice Curts, Former Pacific Chief, Dies", The Washington Post, February 21, 1976
- ^ a b 1997 Command History For USS Curts (FFG 38)
- ^ a b c USS Curts (FFG-38): Admiral Maurice E. Curts
- ^ The Warfighter's Encyclopedia: Admiral Maurice E. Curts Archived 2004-11-05 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Richardson, James O. (1973), On the Treadmill to Pearl Harbor: The Memoirs of Admiral James O. Richardson, Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, pp. 133, 174, 241
- ^ a b Prange, Gordon W. (1981), At Dawn We Slept: The Untold Story of Pearl Harbor, New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company, pp. 68, 516, 566
- ^ Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships: Columbia VI Archived 2008-01-21 at the Wayback Machine
- ISBN 978-0-252-07064-8
- ^ Taussig, Betty Carney (1995), A Warrior for Freedom, Manhattan, Kansas: Sunflower University Press, pp. 193–194
- ^ Cole, Ronald H.; Poole, Walter S.; Schnabel, James F.; Watson, Robert J.; Webb, Willard J. (1995), The History of the Unified Command Plan, 1946–1993 (PDF), Washington D.C.: Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, p. 27, archived from the original (PDF) on November 27, 2007
- ^ Pacific Fleet Online – U.S. Pacific Fleet Commanders Archived 2009-12-07 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ USS Curts (FFG-38): The Curts Crest and History