Richard T. Curry

Waltham – Retired Waltham Fire Lieutenant Richard T. Curry, of Waltham, died Sunday, April 11, 2010 at his home. He was 62.

Rich was born in Brighton on September 5, 1947, a son of the late Virgil and Martha (Wilson) Curry, and moved with his family to Waltham when he was five years old. After high school he joined the United States Marine Corps and served with distinction during the Vietnam War. He was awarded the Silver Star and two Purple Hearts in addition to a Presidential Unit Citation; National Defense Service Medal; the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry; the Vietnam Service Medal with three stars and the Vietnam Campaign Medal.

Rich was nominated to receive the Silver Star, the nation’s third highest military award, when he was a nineteen year old private first class and squad leader serving with ‘A’ Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment of the 1st Marine Division. A couple of weeks shy of his twentieth birthday, in August, 1967, Rich and his platoon were sent to establish a defensive ambush position 200 yards outside their base perimeter in Da Nang province. His squad came under heavy enemy attack before they reached their positions, receiving rifle and machine gun fire, in addition to a grenade attack. Rich’s Presidential Citation described the event: “In the initial moments of the attack, all members of the machine gun team were wounded . . . reacting instantly, PFC Curry ran fifteen meters under intense enemy fire to the team’s position. While encouraging the wounded he boldly positioned himself in front of his wounded comrades with the machine gun in full view of the enemy and commenced to direct long bursts of fire into hostile positions.” He continued to fire the heavy weapon from a standing position until the enemy ceased firing and after expending 600 rounds of ammunition, eventually running out, he repositioned himself with his personal weapon in the darkness to other wounded Marines, re-loading their weapons and directing their fire until enemy forces withdrew. One witness to the event, Sergeant Stephen Truss, USMC, attributed Rich’s heroic actions “with saving the lives of the machine gun team and all the members of his squad”.

After returning from Vietnam he attended the University of Massachusetts at Boston. He was appointed a Waltham Firefighter in September of 1976 and promoted to Fire Lieutenant in June, 1983. He served aboard Rescue 6 out of the Central Station on Lexington Street for most of his career, retiring in July of 1998.

Rich was a lifelong outdoorsman who loved to travel the world. He enjoyed golfing, fishing, scuba diving and mountain climbing. He was also a talented carpenter and a ‘Friend of Bill W’. Rich was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 1628 in Bedford and the Disabled American Veterans, Chapter No. 47 in Billerica.

He leaves his children, Adam T. Curry and his wife, Dawn, of Waltham and Dannielle C. Kissane and her husband, Chris, of Natick; his former wife, Jeanne C. (Calnan) Curry of Waltham; his grandson, Aidan C. Curry; one brother, Robert B. Curry and his wife, Anna, of Waltham; his sister-in-law, Diana J. (Robichaud) (Curry) Badger and his nieces, Melissa, Kristen and Anna Curry and Robin Jackson.

Rich was also a brother of the late Stephen W. Curry.

Family and friends will honor and remember Rich’s life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Wednesday from 4 to 8 p.m. and again at 9 a.m. on Thursday morning before leaving in procession to Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted Church, 880 Trapelo Road, Waltham where his Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Burial will follow in Mount Feake Cemetery, Waltham.