James Lee Curtis passed away peacefully at his home in Scottsdale, Arizona, on Monday, July 13, 2015. "Lee" was born in Soda Springs, Idaho, December 31, 1953. He was the third son of George J. and Margaret Tibbitts Curtis. Both have preceded him in death. Lee was raised in Idaho Falls and attended Skyline High School. He received his bachelor's degree in business from Southwest Texas State University.
Lee joined the Air Force in 1977 after achieving the highest entrance score on the ASVAB [Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery] exam ever seen by his recruiters. He went on to study Arabic at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California. Lee was then stationed in Athens, Greece, where he was a linguist for the Air Force until 1982.
During a now declassified incident, Lee intercepted the orders given by Qaddafi's commander to "shoot them down." Their RC-135 was engaged by MiG-23 fighter jets firing heat seeking missiles over the Gulf of Sidra west of Benghazi. Lee's immediate relay of intelligence saved his own and many other's lives during that attack. (More information can be found at http://theaviationist.com/2013/08/19/tomcats-2-libya-0/.)
Lee later served in the Army during Desert Shield and Desert Storm as a member of the Third Armored Cavalry Regiment (3rd ACR). As the navigator in a lead Humvee, his Commanding Officer referred to him as his "secret weapon" because he spoke Arabic. During that time, Lee was commended by and photographed with General Norman Schwarzkopf.
As a civilian, he worked as a Medicaid Administrator in Phoenix, Arizona. He had a deep sense of compassion for those individuals and families he served.
Lee's military and civilian service was admirable, yet he paid the price that many U.S. veterans pay. He struggled and suffered with PTSD for most of his life. He was never able to recover from the guilt and angst brought on by war and trauma. His loving brother, J, cared for him in every possible way during his last and most difficult years.
To honor Lee's memory, please pray for the courageous men and women who dedicate their lives to ensuring that we continue to have the freedoms that we now enjoy.
Lee is survived by his siblings, George J (Lynda) Curtis, Jr., John Nichlos "Nick" Curtis, Brandt Christian Curtis, Paul Tibbitts (Rebecca) Curtis, Mitchell Dee (Wendy) Curtis, Mary Nell Lorna Curtis (Martin) Lundquist, Stewart Ryan (Susana) Curtis, Robert Whiting (Michelle) Curtis, and forty-three nieces and nephews.
Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, July 21, 2015, at Wood Funeral Home, 273 N Ridge Avenue, Idaho Falls. The family will visit with friends from 1:00 pm to 1:45 p.m. Tuesday at Wood Funeral Home. Interment will take place at Annis-Little Butte Cemetery in Menan, Idaho. Military Rites will be performed by the Jefferson County Veterans Memorial Team and Idaho Honor Guard.
Lee joined the Air Force in 1977 after achieving the highest entrance score on the ASVAB [Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery] exam ever seen by his recruiters. He went on to study Arabic at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California. Lee was then stationed in Athens, Greece, where he was a linguist for the Air Force until 1982.
During a now declassified incident, Lee intercepted the orders given by Qaddafi's commander to "shoot them down." Their RC-135 was engaged by MiG-23 fighter jets firing heat seeking missiles over the Gulf of Sidra west of Benghazi. Lee's immediate relay of intelligence saved his own and many other's lives during that attack. (More information can be found at http://theaviationist.com/2013/08/19/tomcats-2-libya-0/.)
Lee later served in the Army during Desert Shield and Desert Storm as a member of the Third Armored Cavalry Regiment (3rd ACR). As the navigator in a lead Humvee, his Commanding Officer referred to him as his "secret weapon" because he spoke Arabic. During that time, Lee was commended by and photographed with General Norman Schwarzkopf.
As a civilian, he worked as a Medicaid Administrator in Phoenix, Arizona. He had a deep sense of compassion for those individuals and families he served.
Lee's military and civilian service was admirable, yet he paid the price that many U.S. veterans pay. He struggled and suffered with PTSD for most of his life. He was never able to recover from the guilt and angst brought on by war and trauma. His loving brother, J, cared for him in every possible way during his last and most difficult years.
To honor Lee's memory, please pray for the courageous men and women who dedicate their lives to ensuring that we continue to have the freedoms that we now enjoy.
Lee is survived by his siblings, George J (Lynda) Curtis, Jr., John Nichlos "Nick" Curtis, Brandt Christian Curtis, Paul Tibbitts (Rebecca) Curtis, Mitchell Dee (Wendy) Curtis, Mary Nell Lorna Curtis (Martin) Lundquist, Stewart Ryan (Susana) Curtis, Robert Whiting (Michelle) Curtis, and forty-three nieces and nephews.
Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, July 21, 2015, at Wood Funeral Home, 273 N Ridge Avenue, Idaho Falls. The family will visit with friends from 1:00 pm to 1:45 p.m. Tuesday at Wood Funeral Home. Interment will take place at Annis-Little Butte Cemetery in Menan, Idaho. Military Rites will be performed by the Jefferson County Veterans Memorial Team and Idaho Honor Guard.
James Lee Curtis passed away peacefully at his home in Scottsdale, Arizona, on Monday, July 13, 2015. "Lee" was born in Soda Springs, Idaho, December 31, 1953. He was the third son of George J. and Margaret Tibbitts Curtis. Both have preceded him in death. Lee was raised in Idaho Falls and attended Skyline High School. He received his bachelor's degree in business from Southwest Texas State University.
Lee joined the Air Force in 1977 after achieving the highest entrance score on the ASVAB [Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery] exam ever seen by his recruiters. He went on to study Arabic at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California. Lee was then stationed in Athens, Greece, where he was a linguist for the Air Force until 1982.
During a now declassified incident, Lee intercepted the orders given by Qaddafi's commander to "shoot them down." Their RC-135 was engaged by MiG-23 fighter jets firing heat seeking missiles over the Gulf of Sidra west of Benghazi. Lee's immediate relay of intelligence saved his own and many other's lives during that attack. (More information can be found at http://theaviationist.com/2013/08/19/tomcats-2-libya-0/.)
Lee later served in the Army during Desert Shield and Desert Storm as a member of the Third Armored Cavalry Regiment (3rd ACR). As the navigator in a lead Humvee, his Commanding Officer referred to him as his "secret weapon" because he spoke Arabic. During that time, Lee was commended by and photographed with General Norman Schwarzkopf.
As a civilian, he worked as a Medicaid Administrator in Phoenix, Arizona. He had a deep sense of compassion for those individuals and families he served.
Lee's military and civilian service was admirable, yet he paid the price that many U.S. veterans pay. He struggled and suffered with PTSD for most of his life. He was never able to recover from the guilt and angst brought on by war and trauma. His loving brother, J, cared for him in every possible way during his last and most difficult years.
To honor Lee's memory, please pray for the courageous men and women who dedicate their lives to ensuring that we continue to have the freedoms that we now enjoy.
Lee is survived by his siblings, George J (Lynda) Curtis, Jr., John Nichlos "Nick" Curtis, Brandt Christian Curtis, Paul Tibbitts (Rebecca) Curtis, Mitchell Dee (Wendy) Curtis, Mary Nell Lorna Curtis (Martin) Lundquist, Stewart Ryan (Susana) Curtis, Robert Whiting (Michelle) Curtis, and forty-three nieces and nephews.
Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, July 21, 2015, at Wood Funeral Home, 273 N Ridge Avenue, Idaho Falls. The family will visit with friends from 1:00 pm to 1:45 p.m. Tuesday at Wood Funeral Home. Interment will take place at Annis-Little Butte Cemetery in Menan, Idaho. Military Rites will be performed by the Jefferson County Veterans Memorial Team and Idaho Honor Guard.
Lee joined the Air Force in 1977 after achieving the highest entrance score on the ASVAB [Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery] exam ever seen by his recruiters. He went on to study Arabic at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California. Lee was then stationed in Athens, Greece, where he was a linguist for the Air Force until 1982.
During a now declassified incident, Lee intercepted the orders given by Qaddafi's commander to "shoot them down." Their RC-135 was engaged by MiG-23 fighter jets firing heat seeking missiles over the Gulf of Sidra west of Benghazi. Lee's immediate relay of intelligence saved his own and many other's lives during that attack. (More information can be found at http://theaviationist.com/2013/08/19/tomcats-2-libya-0/.)
Lee later served in the Army during Desert Shield and Desert Storm as a member of the Third Armored Cavalry Regiment (3rd ACR). As the navigator in a lead Humvee, his Commanding Officer referred to him as his "secret weapon" because he spoke Arabic. During that time, Lee was commended by and photographed with General Norman Schwarzkopf.
As a civilian, he worked as a Medicaid Administrator in Phoenix, Arizona. He had a deep sense of compassion for those individuals and families he served.
Lee's military and civilian service was admirable, yet he paid the price that many U.S. veterans pay. He struggled and suffered with PTSD for most of his life. He was never able to recover from the guilt and angst brought on by war and trauma. His loving brother, J, cared for him in every possible way during his last and most difficult years.
To honor Lee's memory, please pray for the courageous men and women who dedicate their lives to ensuring that we continue to have the freedoms that we now enjoy.
Lee is survived by his siblings, George J (Lynda) Curtis, Jr., John Nichlos "Nick" Curtis, Brandt Christian Curtis, Paul Tibbitts (Rebecca) Curtis, Mitchell Dee (Wendy) Curtis, Mary Nell Lorna Curtis (Martin) Lundquist, Stewart Ryan (Susana) Curtis, Robert Whiting (Michelle) Curtis, and forty-three nieces and nephews.
Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, July 21, 2015, at Wood Funeral Home, 273 N Ridge Avenue, Idaho Falls. The family will visit with friends from 1:00 pm to 1:45 p.m. Tuesday at Wood Funeral Home. Interment will take place at Annis-Little Butte Cemetery in Menan, Idaho. Military Rites will be performed by the Jefferson County Veterans Memorial Team and Idaho Honor Guard.
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