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In Memory of U.S. Marines Second Lieutenant

Curtis Malroy Voss

Rosholt, South Dakota, Roberts County

November 5, 1931 – January 10, 1967

Died of Wounds in Vietnam

Curtis Malroy Voss was born November 5, 1931, in Rosholt, South Dakota, to Irvin and Sadie (Backman) Voss. He had two brothers, Dale and Maurice, and one sister, Arlene. Curtis went to high school in Rosholt and graduated in 1949. He farmed and worked for the South Dakota Co-op Breeders Association before he entered the service.

Curtis Voss enlisted and entered active service on September 10, 1952. After his training, he was stationed at various camps in America. He was later sent overseas and stationed in Naples, Italy on NATO duty. He met and later married Melita Attard on September 15, 1955, in Italy. Curtis and his wife returned to the United States in December of 1955, and he continued his training at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, where his son, Oscar, was born. After that, the family was sent to Fergus Falls, Minnesota, where Curtis was a Marine recruiter for several years and his daughters, Maria and Sandra, were born. They were then transferred once more back to Camp Lejeune, where for some years he “spent time on a Mediterranean cruise and at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba,” according to a newspaper article. He then reported for duty at Quantico, Virginia for two years before going to Camp Pendleton, California in 1965. First sent overseas to Vietnam for four months as a military advisor, he then returned, received additional training at Quantico before being promoted first to Warrant Officer, and later commissioned as an officer back at Camp Pendleton while he awaited his orders for overseas duty. When he went overseas to Vietnam on July 26, 1966, Voss was a Second Lieutenant, Company E, 2nd Battalion, 26th Marines, 3rd Marine Division (Rein).

U.S. Marines Second Lieutenant Curtis Malroy Voss died of wounds near Phu Bai, Republic of Vietnam on January 10, 1967, “from sniper fire while on patrol,” according to his casualty report. The body of Curtis Voss was returned to the United States, and he was buried with military honors at Hillside Cemetery, near Rosholt, South Dakota. Among his awards was the Purple Heart.

Curtis Voss is currently survived by his son, Oscar, in Arlington, VA; two daughters, Maria Flaherty, Laguna Niguel, CA, and Sandra Fielhauer, Clarksville, Maryland; a brother, Dale Voss, Rosholt, SD; and a sister, Arlene Ellingson, Bloomington, MN.

This entry was respectfully submitted by Danielle Blakney, 8th grade, Spearfish Middle School, Spearfish, South Dakota, on February 7, 2006. Information for this entry was provided by an application for a Vietnam veterans bonus, Sisseton Courier, 2/16/67 issue, and Curtis’ sister, Arlene Ellingson. Profile approval by Arlene Ellingson.