Stillwater Armory Honors WWII Last Man
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
November 1, 2019
STILLWATER, Minnesota – Stillwater’s newest Army recruit will honor Stillwater’s Last Man in a ceremony at the Stillwater National Guard Armory Monday, 4 Nov. at 10 a.m.
The final commemorative star will be ceremoniously applied to the Last Man plaque by Pvt. Coty Ross, 17, the newest Army National Guard recruit to serve in the Stillwater armory. He recently returned from US Army Basic Training and will go to Advanced Individual Training next summer after graduating high school.
Stillwater’s Last Man was Pvt. 1st Class Jean L. DeCurtins who passed away Aug. 14, 2019 at the age of 100. He was awarded 3 Bronze Stars and 2 Purple Hearts for his service in Africa and Italy during WWII. He was in Stillwater’s D Company, 135th Infantry Regiment, 34th Infantry Division.
Prior to his death he was the last man in Stillwater’s “A and D Last Man Club” which was comprised of soldiers from A and D Companies who trained together at the Stillwater Armory as part of the Minnesota National Guard and were activated together for service in World War II. DeCurtins was the last man from the World War II group.
Stillwater also has an “H and H Last Man’s Club” made up of men who trained together at the Stillwater Armory and were activated in 1951 for the Korean War. “H and H” still exists and has about a dozen members still living.
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Media note: To coordinate coverage contact Master Sgt. Daniel Ewer, 651-282-4412, or daniel.r.ewer.mil@mail.mil.
Stillwater Armory: 350 Maryknoll Dr N., Stillwater, Minnesota, 55082.
– About the Minnesota National Guard –
Established in 1856 and headquartered in St. Paul, the Minnesota National Guard has more than 13,000 soldiers and airmen who serve in 58 communities across the state. The citizen-soldiers and airmen of the Minnesota National Guard are ‘Always Ready’ to fight the nation’s wars, protect the country, respond to state emergencies and contribute to local communities. For more information about the Minnesota National Guard, visit https://MinnesotaNationalGuard.ng.mil.
