Maurice E. Curts

He was born in Flint, Michigan to Edwin James Curts, who represented the 13th District in the Michigan state senate from 1913 to 1914, Appointed to the United States Naval Academy, he served afloat as a midshipman with the Atlantic Fleet during World War I aboard the battleship in the summer of 1918. He graduated in June 1919 with the accelerated class of 1920. 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. From 1938 to 1939 he commanded the destroyer , which was serving as a school ship in San Diego, California. ==World War II==

In June 1939, Curts was tapped to serve as communications officer on the staff of the new Commander Battle Force, Admiral James O. Richardson. When Richardson became Commander in Chief, United States Fleet, Curts accompanied him as fleet communications officer. During Fleet Problem XXI in 1940, the fleet tested its communications procedures under simulated war conditions and discovered serious deficiencies in its existing communications plans. After the exercise, the fleet continued to communicate under simulated war conditions at Curts's recommendation. Richardson declared later: "If the Fleet Problem had resulted in no other advance in naval war readiness and in training, this major step alone would have justified all the money and effort put into the Fleet Problem." 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. 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.{{citation 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 on September 2, 1945. ==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, Atlantic Fleet from 1949 to 1950; and assistant chief of naval operations (readiness) from 1951 to 1953. and both were held by Admiral Felix B. Stump. The titles were finally separated on January 14, 1958, and Curts became CINCPACFLT in his own right for the two weeks remaining before his relief on February 1 by Admiral Herbert G. Hopwood. Upon relinquishing command of the Pacific Fleet, Curts reverted to the rank of vice admiral for his final assignment as Commander, Western Sea Frontier and Commander, Naval Defense Force, Eastern Pacific. He retired on April 1, 1960 as a full admiral and became director for telecommunications policy in the Office of the Secretary of Defense until retiring for a second time in 1965. ==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. ==Awards and decorations==

His decorations include two Distinguished Service Medals, including one for his service as communications officer for the United States Fleet; the Navy Cross, awarded for distinguished service while commanding Columbia at the Battle for Leyte Gulf; the Silver Star; the Bronze Star; three awards of the Legion of Merit; the Purple Heart; and decorations from Thailand, Peru, and Argentina. He received a commendation from the Secretary of the Navy for outstanding contributions in the development of radar while serving as officer-in-charge of the Radio and Sound division of the Naval Research Laboratory. •   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. ==Namesake==

He is the namesake of the guided-missile frigate , 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. ==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, Baja California, Mexico at the age of 77, and is buried with his first wife in Arlington National Cemetery. ==References==