By Keith Uhlig
Brothers Hugh and Elbridge “Al” Curtis already had a close relationship by 1951 when they joined the Marine Corps together.
The United States was about a year into the Korean War and still recovering from World War II.
“Harry (President Truman) had sent us a letter,” Al said. “And the draft was still functioning.”
At the time, they both were studying conservation at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and could have gotten student deferments. But they decided to enlist in the Marines in 1951, “to get it over with,” Hugh said. “And that way, we could serve together.”
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