Rank: Private First Class
Unit: K Troop, 3rd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
MOS: 11D – Armor Reconnaissance Specialist
Awards: Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device, Purple Heart Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Badges: Combat Infantryman Badge
Unit awards: Valorous Unit Award, Meritorious Unit Citation, Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm device
Enlisted by: Selected Service
Date of birth: 4-Nov-1947
Hometown: Detroit, Michigan
Marital status: Married to Rosalind Curley
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Entered service: 6-Dec-1966
Start of tour: 9-May-1967
Incident date: 21-Jul-1967
Date of casualty: 21-Jul-1967
Age at death: 19
Cause of death: Hostile, died while missing. Unknown. Burns.
Roosevelt C. Curley died as a result of burns received in a fire fight with a hostile force.
Fourteen Blackhorse troopers died in this incident:
CPT William Forman Abernethy
PFC James Francis Bean
PFC John Joseph Campa
PFC Roosevelt C. Curley
SP4 Lawrence Michael Dawson
PFC George Arthur Foster
PVT Thomas Francis Ganion
PFC Douglas Wayne Hill
PFC Frank Daniel Leal
PFC Gary Alfred McLennan
PFC Billy Gene Rodgers
SP4 Richard James Schutz
1LT Ponder Ray Sims
PFC James Lemar Whitfield
Location of fatality: Unknown, South Vietnam, YT 430 308
Place of interment: Detroit Memorial Park East, Warren, Michigan, USA
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BRONZE STAR MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE
POSTHUMOUS
PRIVATE FIRST CLASS ROOSEVELT L CURLEY
21 JULY 1967
K TROOP, 3rd SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Private First Class Roosevelt distinguished himself by valorous actions on 21 July 1967 while participating in a search and secure mission near Xa Bien Hoa, Republic of Vietnam. As the lead troop was entering its assigned sector, it came under heavy anti-tank and automatic weapons fire from an undetermined number of Viet Cong. Directed into the most intense area of enemy attack, Private Curley immediately maneuvered his vehicle into the devastating enemy fire in a valiant attempt to break the Viet Congs attacking force. For more than two hours, Private Curley expertly maneuvered his vehicle and exposed himself to the hail of enemy fire in an attempt to neutralize the insurgent force. When a Viet Cong platoon suddenly tried to overrun the Armored Cavalry Assault Vehicle, Private Curley swiftly maneuvered his vehicle enabling his crew to best engage the attackers while he remained fully exposed to the brunt of the hostile attack. As the insurgents reached his track, an enemy rocket round hit the drivers compartment wounding Private Curley. Throughout the battle, his bravery and dedication to duty contributed significantly to rallying friendly forces. Private First Class Curley’s courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
Headquarters, 9th Infantry Division General Orders No. 3856 (4 August 1967)