Navy Federal Credit Union

Theodore Curtis was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah, and graduated from the University of Utah. He then taught at Granite High School before enlisting for military service in 1933. An active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), he was commissioned a U.S. Army chaplain and served for five years with the 28th Infantry Regiment at Fort Douglas, then with the 115th Engineer Combat Regiment, and as chaplain for the 25th Infantry Division Artillery in Hawaii. He first saw combat with the 40th Infantry Division at Guadalcanal, then New Britain, and finally in the Philippine Islands campaign, where he helped liberate the San Tomas Concentration Camp. Following his war service he remained in the military, serving in Japan, Europe, and retired at the Presidio of San Francisco as a U.S. Army colonel. After retiring he served in the Berkeley High Council and was also a patriarch of the San Jose West Stake and was patriarch at the Santa Clara Stake when he died in 1983.

Awards Received

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Major (Chaplain’s Corps)

    Division:

    40th Infantry Division

    Action Date:

    January 10, 1945

    Headquarters, 40th Infantry Division, General Orders No. 8 (1945)

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Major (Chaplain’s Corps) Theodore E. Curtis, Jr., United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving as Assistant Division Chaplain with Headquarters, 40th Infantry Division, in action at Luzon, Philippine Islands, on 10 January 1945. During action along the Dulig-Labrador road, Chaplain Curtis was attached to an advance platoon. He waw a man mortally wounded and with no thought for his own personal safety, he advanced through heavy fire, crawled to the wounded man, prayed with him, and later helped to evacuate his body. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by Chaplain Curtis, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.