Born: January 24, 1918
Died: August 6, 1984
Campaigns Served: Namur, Saipan, Tinian
Highest Rank Attained: First Sergeant
Decorations:
Curtis Dekle, a native Georgian, enlisted in the Marine Corps at the age of eighteen. After graduating from boot camp, he was stationed at the Washington DC Navy Yard, where he received his first promotion to Private First Class in August, 1940. Unfortunately, the details of Dekle's service between the end of 1940 and his stationing with First Battalion are unknown, but his career rise was nothing short of astronomical - by the end of his first enlistment, he held the rank of First Sergeant alongside seasoned veterans of China and the Banana Wars.
With Dog Company:
Deckle was assigned to Dog Company, 24th Marines, as a senior NCO - though equal in rank, he likely deferred to the more experienced First Sergeant Victor Goller. Dekle saw his first combat with the company's headquarters during the battle of Namur, and was transferred to the Battalion Headquarters company in March, 1944.
With HQ Company:
First Sergeant Dekle became the senior NCO with the company headquarters; he was the second highest ranked NCO in the battalion, following Sergeant Major William Dolly. He served through the battles of Saipan and Tinian, and was transferred out of the battalion in the fall of 1944.
While the reasons for Dekle's transfer are unknown, it is likely that he left to accept a field commission to the rank of lieutenant. He served through the remainder of World War Two and stayed with the Corps through Korea. He was discharged in June, 1962, with the rank of captain.
Curtis Dekle died in Florida in 1984. He is buried in California's Riverside National Cemetery, Section 5 Site 4683.
Photo by Mary Santanen, FindAGrave.com volunteer.