On Feb. 11, 1917, Woodrow Wilson was the nation’s president. World Conflict I used to be nonetheless greater than a yr and a half away from ending.
And in a small city in northwestern North Dakota, close to the Canadian border, Ray Curtis was born. The state’s oldest veteran just lately celebrated his 109th birthday.
Curtis survived the Nice Melancholy, the Mud Bowl that tore by means of the Excessive Plains within the Nineteen Thirties, and life as a World Conflict II soldier.
Rising up in Columbus, North Dakota, Curtis was one in all 4 kids raised on a grain farm. The melancholy hit farmers notably laborious, and Curtis’ household was not immune. Harsh climate situations, mixed with a bear market, made promoting crops troublesome.
Curtis started promoting potatoes on his personal to make just a few {dollars}.
“I bought these potatoes for a greenback a bushel, and that’s the one cash I had in these six years,” he mentioned.
Whereas the Nice Melancholy softened, the specter of struggle wasn’t far off, and Curtis determined to enlist within the army for one yr.
“They began the draft in 1940, and I believed, I’d higher nicely enlist in January for one yr coaching,” Curtis mentioned.
The U.S. wasn’t but concerned in World Conflict II. That every one modified on Dec. 7, 1941.
“So, I enlisted for one yr. But it surely so occurred the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, so my years within the military prolonged to 1945,” Curtis mentioned.
His service time was a month from ending when Pearl Harbor was attacked, however it not mattered to Curtis; it was time to hitch the struggle effort. He turned an Army officer, serving most of his time stateside but additionally abroad.
Assembly a Woman
Whereas his thoughts was occupied with army duties, his ideas typically drifted to a woman he met again house – Ellen.
“She solely lived about seven miles from me,” Curtis mentioned. “I met her at her card get together; we had card events within the wintertime in these days.”
Serving within the Army throughout wartime, break day was restricted, and Curtis was usually based mostly in areas distant from Ellen. However his dedication to marry her didn’t waver, and at some point they discovered a solution to tie the knot.
“I obtained a 24-hour depart, that was on a regular basis we had, and we drove to Reno, Nevada,” Curtis remembers. “And obtained to Reno, Nevada, Sunday morning, and went as much as the courthouse, obtained our marriage license, went to the decide’s workplace, and obtained married.”
The wedding lasted 72 years, till Ellen’s loss of life, and the couple welcomed 5 daughters. Their rock-solid marriage was admired by many, together with Rebecca Grey, one in all their daughters.
“I by no means heard a harsh or nasty phrase between them. Not that they didn’t disagree, however they did it very respectfully; there was by no means a raised voice that I keep in mind,” Grey mentioned. “Even to at the present time, after I go and sit with my dad, I simply really feel that calmness and that you understand I’m at house right here, and their religion performed an enormous position in that.”
Life After the Conflict
Following his army discharge in 1945, Curtis returned to North Dakota and labored the farm along with his brother and different members of the family.
“Then we moved as much as the farm, and I farmed ever since,” he mentioned.
Curtis’ household wasn’t recognized for longevity. He mentioned a lot of his siblings died earlier than they reached outdated age. His dad and mom each lived for 82 years, which was the longest within the household till Curtis surpassed that mark by 27 years.
“I had taken all their years,” he mentioned.
Upon celebrating his birthday, Curtis obtained many honors. Not solely is he North Dakota’s oldest veteran, however he’s additionally believed to be among the many 11 oldest World Conflict II veterans in America.
Regardless of his age, Curtis’s thoughts and wit are nonetheless sharp as a tack. He saved a number of gadgets from World Conflict II, together with just a few he most likely shouldn’t have left the Army with.
“This was my blanket. I’m not alleged to have it, have to show it in, I feel,” Curtis mentioned.
Curtis can also be very lively and nonetheless walks as a lot as doable. He believes it’s the important thing to an extended life.
“I train quite a bit,” he mentioned. “I used to stroll quite a bit and train, and I used to eat an excellent food regimen, I assume.”
He advises youthful generations to maintain shifting, to remain match, and to boost households with a robust emphasis on religion. Curtis has 10 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren.
