NATHANIEL C. CURETON, JR., COL, USA
Nathaniel Cureton, Jr. '21
Lucky Bag
"Cureton, N.C." is listed on the page "Stray Losses."
The Howitzer (West Point Yearbook)
From the 1924 Howitzer:
NATHANIEL C. CURETON, JR.
Louisville, Kentucky
"Nat"
FROM Kaintuck, that land of good liquor, fast horses and pretty women, our Nat came four years ago. Since then, he has been interested in only two of these attributes of his native State. He never has "boned" the cavalry anyway.
Fortune and the T.D. have smiled upon him ever since his blond locks first glistened under the West Point sun. Note:—Plebe summer, a high ranking sergeant; plebe year, still high ranking, though not a sergeant and leading member of an entertainment committee for certain upper- classmen; yearling year, corporal "snake" and "crawloid" from way back; second class, a member of the famous blond squad; first class, again a sergeant.
He can do a little of most everything, but "P. Sing," tennis, "boning" the "Cosmo" and the old red comforter are his pet diversions.
Nat's good nature and sunny disposition have won for him the friendship of all who know him.
Rifle Marksman; Hundredth Night (2); Pointer Staff (1); Corp. (3); Sgt. (1).
Fifth Congressional District Appointment
NATHANIEL C. CURETON, JR.
Louisville, Kentucky
"Nat"
FROM Kaintuck, that land of good liquor, fast horses and pretty women, our Nat came four years ago. Since then, he has been interested in only two of these attributes of his native State. He never has "boned" the cavalry anyway.
Fortune and the T.D. have smiled upon him ever since his blond locks first glistened under the West Point sun. Note:—Plebe summer, a high ranking sergeant; plebe year, still high ranking, though not a sergeant and leading member of an entertainment committee for certain upper- classmen; yearling year, corporal "snake" and "crawloid" from way back; second class, a member of the famous blond squad; first class, again a sergeant.
He can do a little of most everything, but "P. Sing," tennis, "boning" the "Cosmo" and the old red comforter are his pet diversions.
Nat's good nature and sunny disposition have won for him the friendship of all who know him.
Rifle Marksman; Hundredth Night (2); Pointer Staff (1); Corp. (3); Sgt. (1).
Fifth Congressional District Appointment
Loss
Nathaniel was killed in action on June 20, 1945 with Japanese forces while on a reconnaissance patrol in China.
Other Information
From West Point Association of Graduates:
Nathaniel C. Cureton, Jr. was born in Louisville, Kentucky, on July 18, 1898. He graduated from Louisville Male High School and was appointed to the United States Military Academy in 1920, graduating with the Class of 1924. He served with the Field Artillery until September 1, 1935, at which time he transferred to the Quartermaster Corps.
When the United States entered World War II, Nat expressed a desire for Foreign Service and combat duty. He believed that he could render maximum benefit to the war effort as an officer of the Field Artillery and, accordingly, transferred back to that branch of service.
During the period September 1944 to January 1945, Nat served with his brother, Colonel William H. Cureton. F.A., as an instructor at the Ramgarh Training Center, Ramgarh, India. He was appointed Inspector of Gunnery in the Armored Force section which was then busily engaged in training five battalions of tanks for the Chinese Array in India. Upon learning that those units would never see combat. Nat arranged for a transfer to be Senior Liaison Officer to the Fifth Chinese Artillery Regiment, 105 truck drawn millimeter howitzers, which was then scheduled for movement forward to Burma. Nat. elated at this chance for more active service and with his customary dry wit and quiet effectiveness dove into his new job. His obvious sincerity did much to overcome a very bad morale and disciplinary problem in that regiment which had just caused the relief of the Chinese commander. The conclusion of the campaign in North Burma resulted in Nat’s regiment becoming the first Chinese artillery regiment to motor over the Ledo Road into China. The regiment was moved forward to Hunan Province almost immediately and was assigned missions as battalions in the offensive operations scheduled to take place in August, but which never occurred because of the early end of the war.
It was while on reconnaissance, preparatory to these operations, that Nat ran into the great misfortune that was to cost his life. With several U.S. and Chinese Officers, Nat jeeped forward from Ishan toward Liuchow, then held by the Japs, to inspect the Chinese front line positions and learn at first hand their special characteristics, needs, and methods of close-in artillery support. The road was built up over surrounding paddy fields and in some unaccountable way the jeep passed through the Chinese front line and up to a Jap road block which was thought to be Chinese. Upon dismounting, the party encountered Jap machine gun fire and dispersed into the bordering paddy fields and ditches. A few moments later Nat was seen to have been hit several times in the body and was lifeless.
Survivors include his mother, Mrs. Mattie H. Cureton, Louisville, Kentucky; his wife, Mrs. Catherine Etter Cureton, San Antonio, Texas; and his brother, Colonel W. H. Cureton, Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
From researcher Kathy Franz:
After high school, Nathaniel went to the University of Kentucky for a short time.
He was appointed to the Naval Academy by Representative Swagar Sherley. He left the Academy around January, 1920, as the January census reported that he was a commercial salesman for a candy company in Louisville. He was appointed by Representative Langley to West Point and entered in June, 1920.
In May, 1928, he was in the Twelfth Field Artillery at Fort Sam Houston. He shortly thereafter married Catherine Etter. In 1930, he was in the 15th Field Artillery, Battery I, at Fort Sam Houston.
From 1932-1939, he was in Hawaii in the 11th quartermaster regiment at Schofield Barracks. In late 1939, he was sent to Ft. Sheridan, Illinois, for duty with the field artillery.
In 1940, he was with the 19th Field Artillery, 5th Division, at Fort Knox, Kentucky. In June, 1943, he was sent to Camp Davis, North Carolina, for special training at the Antiaircraft Artillery School.
In November, 1946, Fort Sill renamed a road as Cureton Avenue in honor of Nathaniel.
His father was a county attorney. His mother was Martha, and his brother William was a Colonel in the Army.
He is buried in Kentucky.
Photographs
Bronze Star
From West Point Association of Graduates:
Lieutenant Colonel NATHANIEL C. CURETON, JR., 015684, Field Artillery, Regular Army, is awarded the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious conduct in the performance of duty from 1 April 1945 to 12 June 1945, as Director of Training Battalions (Motorized), at the Field Artillery Training Center. He initiated the training of motorized Chinese Battalions at this training center. By his patient and tactful attitude toward our Chinese Allies, he effectively and smoothly accomplished notable results in a minimum of time. His thorough professional knowledge, close attention to duty and enthusiasm for the job in hand, were conducive to added efforts on the part of the Chinese. He ably supervised the preparation of training schedules and progress tests. His efforts contributed materially in the training of Chinese Motorized Field Artillery. His death was caused by enemy action while he was on reconnaissance near enemy lines.
Namesake
Cureton Avenue at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma is named for Nathaniel.
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