He knows of courage and bravery. He knows of love.
United States Marine Corps E-3 Lance Corporal John Curtin will rely on those character traits for the rest of his life.
Curtin was 19 when he joined the Marine Corps and what has unfolded has truly tested his Marine mettle, but more importantly, it has shown his strength and spirit.
Curtin, who joined the Marine Corps as an infantry rifleman, was on foot patrol during the day in the Sangin Valley, Afghanistan. His platoon was checking out a compound used by the Taliban, gathering information for an after actions report. As the entire unit was walking through a doorway of the compound, Curtin’s team leader asked him to stand watch.
When he turned slightly to go back, a pressure-plated improvised explosive device (IED) detonated under him.
“I woke up with both of my legs gone above the knee,” he said.
Curtin made his first phone call from Germany to his family and instead of concentrating on his own loss, he turned his focus to his loved ones.
“I asked my mother how she was doing,” he said.
When he landed in Maryland, as he got off the plane the first thing he did was spot his family and lifted his head and smiled at them all.
“I wanted to make sure my family knew I was OK,” he added. “All I was thinking about was getting home and getting better.”
United States Marine Corps E-3 Lance Corporal John Curtin
Curtin was admitted to the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Even if a hint to a passageway to fear arose, Curtin curbed it, as a United States Marine does not give up in a fight. He mustered his nerve and took on one of the biggest challenges of his life … healing and carrying on.
While Curtin was rehabilitating, in May 2011, he met a young Red Cross volunteer, Brittany Albert, daughter of Ruben and Jennifer Albert and granddaughter of Ruben and Mae Albert, formerly of Houlton. Albert was studying physical therapy at the University of Tennessee. She was working an internship on Curtin’s ward at the Military Advanced Training Center, which provides rehabilitation to patients with amputations.
Albert, who had grown up an “Army brat,” had always been around the military, so nothing about the service was foreign to her.
The two forged a friendship, as Albert worked with Curtin on his rehabilitation.
“I was able to be part of his rehab from almost the beginning,” Albert said. “I was there to watch him learn to walk again with prosthetics and to see him regain his strength. However, his brother and family were his biggest support system while in the hospital because I was still in college in Knoxville.”
As Curtin continued his rehab, he and Albert stayed in touch. Feeling a connection to the young woman, Curtin asked her to attend his unit’s Marine Corps Ball in Oct. 2011.
“I was hesitant because I did not intern to meet anyone and there were strict rules of no fraternization,” Albert explained. “But, I had finished my internship and handled the situation as I saw fit. I did not feel attending his ball as a friend was crossing any boundaries, but the chemistry was undeniable between us. I knew that I wanted to see where it went and I knew my intentions, so I just went with my heart and I’m very glad I did.”
A month later, the two began dating. Curtin was discharged from the hospital July 2012, with Albert by his side.
“Seeing his strength and perseverance are the biggest things to me,” she said. “If he can make it through getting severely injured, we can make it through anything. I find it a complete honor to be the woman in his life watching him inspire everyone he meets.”
Curtin said the resilience he learned from the Marine Corps infantry was what he used to “fight back” with during his rehab.
“I never even slightly blamed the Marine Corps for what happened to me,” he said. “I loved being a Marine.”
“He often says it was never about a job or a paycheck to him,” Albert added. “He believed in what he was doing. Even knowing the outcome, I know John would be willing to go back again.”
Albert graduated from the University of Tennessee in December of 2012 and the couple became engaged on Sept. 11, 2014. They are now planning their wedding for Nov. 15, 2015 in Murfreesboro, Tenn.
“It is going to be a small and intimate wedding with our family and friends,” Albert said.
Curtin has handled his disability, as the soldier he is, with spirit and valor. He participated in many marathons with a hand cycle and has qualified in the ParaOlympics for weight training. Curtin is an avid outdoorsman, “who goes hunting every chance he gets,” said Albert. “He accomplishes anything he sets his mind to.”
When the two are together, they are like any ordinary couple. They tease, laugh, bicker and love.
“It doesn’t really cross my mind much that he’s a double amputee,” said Albert. “I know certain things will be harder, but we make a great team so rather than worry about it, we will just deal with things as they come.”
“I am very grateful after everything I have been through to have such a loving and caring woman by my side,” said Curtin. “We are very excited to get married and start a family and life together.”
