OPERATION PATRIOTISM: Introducing Rose Marie and Ted Curtis of Orono
As part of our ongoing series in support of veterans and WLOB?s Operation Patriotism, AARP Maine is proud to introduce veterans of Maine who have generously shared their stories about their years of service.? On August 30th, WLOB is sponsoring their 8th annual Sea Dogs game for veterans and their families who are invited to attend for free!? Please go to www.rayrichardson.com for more information and to reserve your tickets.? We look forward to seeing you there!
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Rose Marie (Montero) Curtis was born in The Dominican Republic and at the age of eleven made the decision herself to join her mother in America with her younger brother, even though they could not speak any English.? She became a naturalized citizen in Miami while she was attending Barry College (now University) in the nursing program.? She joined the U.S. Navy as a Registered Nurse with the rank of LTJG in 1963.? After serving in New York at St. Albans Naval Hospital she requested duty in Naples, Italy.? She cried when she was assigned to Subic Bay in The Philippines.
Ted Curtis graduated from Bowdoin College and Harvard Law School, after which he was a commissioned Ensign at Officers Candidate School in Newport, R.I.? His first assignment was to the U.S.S. Henry W. Tucker (DD-875) as the Combat Information Center Officer responsible for radar and tactical radio communications on a ship which delivered naval gunfire support for the U.S. Army and Marines in Vietnam and provided rescue service for aircraft in the Gulf of Tonkin.? The story becomes interesting when Ted was transferred from the destroyer to the U.S.S. ?Cusk, a diesel submarine assigned to provide anti-submarine training services for destroyers in the Gulf.? As he was boarding the submarine from the Tucker?s motor whaleboat, a rogue wave caused the motor whaleboat to lift higher than expected using Ted?s left leg as a fender.? The corpsmen on the submarine and the destroyer did not have the equipment to treat Ted, so he was sent by helicopter to an aircraft carrier and then catapulted off the carrier in an aircraft to Subic Bay, where the Naval Hospital had the equipment and personnel to solve his leg problem.
One morning, he asked his night nurse, LT Montero, if she would go dancing with him at the Officer?s Club.? She had noticed his blue eyes which matched his Navy issue blue hospital pajamas and said, ?sure? not knowing that his doctor had authorized liberty for the ensign with the broken leg.? After being stood up for that first date, Ted was persistent and the next dancing date, with the patient on crutches, resulted in their falling in love.? Ted proposed by telephone from Japan where the Tucker was home ported. The couple married in 1969 at Rose Marie?s next duty station, Newport, R.I., at the Seabee?s Chapel ?By The Sea on the naval base.
Ted?s final active duty assignment was as the only recruiting advisor to the Vietnamese Navy.? Rose Marie wrangled leave to visit him in Vietnam and tour the Vietnamese naval hospital.? After a year in Vietnam, Ted transferred to the Naval Reserves and Rose Marie resigned her commission as a Lieutenant Commander to raise the couple?s four children, three of whom have done duty with the National Park Service.? On is currently a sergeant on active duty in the U.S. Air Force.
The couple are active in their church and community and live in the house in Orono where Ted grew up and now practices law.? Ted served eight years in the Maine Legislature and now represents Vietnam Veterans on the Board of Trustees of The Maine Veterans Homes. ?Rose Marie has now retired from active nursing after hospital and nursing home duties.
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Both Rose Marie and Ted say they thoroughly enjoyed their years in the Navy.? Rose Marie cherished the opportunity to care for people in need and says she had a real sense of ?belonging? and being part of something really important.? Ted was inspired by the desire to see the world and be part of the Navy?s venerable tradition of military service.? But meeting each other was, of course, the best part.? If not for an unwanted assignment to Subic Bay and a rogue wave?.!
Photo: AARP Staff
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Source: http://states.aarp.org/operation-patriotism-introducing-ted-and-rose-marie-curtis-of-bangor/
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