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USS CURTS (FFG-38) is named
for the late Admiral Maurice E. Curts, United States Navy (1898 - 1976), former
Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet and heroic cruiser commander of World
War II.
Admiral Curts graduated from United States Naval Academy in 1919. He studied
the emerging technology of radio at the Naval Postgraduate School in
Annapolis, Maryland and Harvard University between 1926 and 1928. These
studies led to his assignment as Officer-in-Charge, Radio and Sound, Naval
Research Laboratory from 1936 to 1938, where he earned a commendation from
the Secretary of the Navy for his outstanding contributions in the
development of radar.
At the outbreak of World War II, Admiral Curts was the Communications Officer
for the staff of Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet. He was awarded the
Bronze Star Medal for his successful and innovative organization of joint
communications during the first months of the war.
Admiral Curts was awarded the Navy Cross and Silver Star Medal for
extraordinary heroism while commanding the cruiser USS COLUMBIA during the
Leyte Gulf landings, the Battle of Surigao Strait, the Lingayen Gulf landings
and the liberation of Borneo. During the initial Lingayen Gulf landings, he
continued to lead his cruiser in action despite severe damage inflicted by
two suicide planes which had left 100 of his men dead or wounded.
As Chief of Staff and Aide to Commander, FIRST Carrier Task Force, Pacific
Fleet, Admiral Curts was present at the formal surrender of the Japanese on
board the battleship USS MISSOURI in Tokyo Bay on 02 September 1945.
Following the close of World War II, Admiral Curts served as Force Commander,
Operational Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet; Assistant Chief of Naval Operations
(Readiness); and Deputy Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet, serving with
great distinction until 13 January 1956. On that date, President Dwight D.
Eisenhower appointed Admiral Curts Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet.
Admiral Curts served in that capacity until 01 February 1958. One month
later, he assumed duty as Commander, Western Sea Frontier, serving in that
capacity until his retirement on 01 April 1960.
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USS CURTS was commissioned 8 October
1983 after construction at the Todd Pacific Shipyards, San Pedro, California.
The first years in commission were focused on anti-submarine warfare (ASW)
operations as CURTS was the first Pacific Fleet unit with the complete SQQ-89
ASW Suite. CURTS served in Destroyer Squadron 31 -- the ASW squadron -- from
1985 until mid-1987. CURTS was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation for
brilliant performance in the tracking of Soviet submarines.
Increased tensions in the Middle East as a result of the STARK incident in
1987 resulted in CURTS assignment to the USS MISSOURI battle group. For their
1987-88 deployment, the battle group was awarded the Armed Forces
Expeditionary Medal for efforts in support of Operation Earnest Will in the
northern Arabian Sea and Gulf of Oman.
A new era for CURTS began 1 June 1988 with departure from Long Beach,
California for a new homeport in Yokosuka, Japan. CURTS and a sister ship
brought the first LAMPS MK III helicopters to Naval Air Facility, Atsugi. A
busy first year was culminated by a deployment to the Middle East Force in
support of Operation Earnest Will.
In 1990, CURTS joined the battle group of aircraft carrier USS MIDWAY and
deployed to support Operation Desert Shield. While crossing the South China
Sea on 17 October 1990, CURTS rescued 50 Vietnamese refugees from a disabled
fishing boat that had been drifting for ten days. The last two months of 1990
were spent conducting Maritime Interception Force Operations in the Gulf of
Oman.
An incredible year began as CURTS entered the Persian Gulf in 1991.
Assignment to the northernmost group of ships in the Persian gulf at the
outbreak of Operation Desert Storm resulted in CURTS being in the middle of
virtually all naval combat operations during the war. On 24 January 1991,
CURTS with her embarked Navy and Army helicopters captured the Iraqi garrison
on Qaruh Island. The net result was one island liberated, fifty-one Iraqi
prisoners captured, two mines destroyed, one minelayer sunk, and a wealth of
intelligence materials seized. Support of combat helicopter operations during
Battle of Bubiyan Island and escort for the battleships USS MISSOURI and USS
WISCONSIN during Naval Gunfire Support missions were equally demanding.
Assignment to the mine countermeasures escort force for the amphibious feint
off Faylakah Island kept every crewmember on edge until the cease-fire was
declared. Rejoining the Midway battle group, CURTS returned to homeport on 17
April. A Navy Unit Commendation was received for membership in the Arabian
Gulf Battle Force. While assigned in support of Operation Desert Storm, CURTS
was announced as the winner of the Arleigh Burke Fleet Trophy as the most
improved command in the entire Pacific Fleet for fiscal year 1990.
In June 1991, CURTS once again found themselves in the midst of another
calamity as the eruption of Mount Pinatubo occurred while inport Subic Bay,
Republic of the Philippines. After digging out from under about a foot of
grit, rocks, and ask CURTS was underway the same day to transport 298
evacuees to the island of Cebu during Operation Fiery Vigil. Another round
trip brought 249 additional evacuees to safety.
In the latter half of 1992, CURTS completed extensive joint Navy exercises
with Korean, Australian, and Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF)
navies. During these exercises, CURTS had the opportunity to make port calls
in Korea and Australia.
In October 1993, CURTS joined the USS INDEPENDENCE battle group to
participate with the JMSDF in the joint anti-submarine warfare exercise
MAREX. On 17 November, CURTS steamed out of Yokosuka with the INDEPENDENCE
battle group for a Middle East deployment. CURTS was assigned to the Red Sea
where she conducted 89 boardings as part of the Maritime Interdiction Force
supporting United Nations sanctions against Iraq. CURTS rejoined the battle
group in the Arabian Gulf were she continued the enforcement of U. N.
sanctions. While transiting the Gulf of Oman, CURTS discovered an adrift
livestock vessel. Assistance was rendered and the vessel along with its 23
crew members was towed to Oman.
In early August 2004, Curts embarked its SH-60B helicopter detachment,
Helicopter Anti-submarine Squadron (Light) (HSL) 45 Det. 6, homeported at
Naval Air Station North Island, and a U.S. Coast Guard detachment from
Pacific Tactical Law Enforcement Detachment (PACTACLET) in San Diego, for a
six-month deployment in support of law enforcement operations against the
illegal smuggling of narcotics.
On November 5, 2004, USS Curts (FFG 38) offloaded and turned over to
authorities 75,000 pounds of cocaine in Key West, FL. The multi-ton shipment,
valued at more than $2.3 billion, was the result of five drug interdiction
operations conducted in the Eastern Pacific between Aug. 31 and Sept. 26,
2004. Curts directly supported three of the interdictions, totaling more than
44,000 pounds. One of Curts’ interdictions, conducted Sept. 17, yielded
30,000 pounds, the largest seizure in the history of counter-drug operations.
The remaining 31,000 pounds of narcotics included in the offload were seized
in two different operations: one conducted by USS Crommelin (FFG 37) with a
LEDET (Law Enforcement Detachment), and another by USCGC Jarvis (WHEC 725).
USS Curts (FFG 38) returned to its homeport of San Diego on Feb. 2, 2005 from
to the U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command area of responsibility (AOR).
During her six-month deployment, Curts directly supported three drug interdiction
operations, totaling more than 44,000 pounds of cocaine. One of the
interdiction operations, conducted Sept. 17, yielded 30,000 pounds, the
largest seizure in the history of counter-drug operations. In addition,
Curts’ operations and intelligence specialists worked with other agencies in
putting together a common operational picture to interdict the smuggling
operations. Curts’ weapons detail and visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS)
personnel provided support for the Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment
(LEDET) when boarding suspect vessels. The final and crucial element of the
team was the helicopter detachment, HSL-45, Det. 6, which assisted Curts in
intercepting over-the-horizon targets of interest. While deployed, Curts also
operated in the Atlantic Ocean, transiting through the Panama Canal Oct. 31
and visiting Key West and Mayport, Fla., for a mid-deployment maintenance
availability. Curts returned to the Pacific Ocean Dec. 9, visiting the ports
of Vasco Nunez de Balboa, Panama; Acapulco and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, en
route to San Diego.
On 16 February 2007, Curts
was awarded the 2006 Battle "E" award.
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