Walter Joseph Patrick Curley Junior was born near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1922. Curley's father owned a railway tank car business and the Curley's lived comfortably through the years of the Great Depression [Annotator's Note: the Great Depression was a global economic depression that lasted from 1929 through 1939 in the United States]. He remembers his childhood years fondly because he was not fully aware of the world around him because he was young. His father worked longer hours and seemed more concerned than before the Great Depression. He saw breadlines all around Pittsburg which had an effect on him. After graduating from high school, Curley attended Phillips Academy Andover [Annotator's Note: in Andover, Massachusetts]. During his time at Phillips, he got the opportunity to spend a semester abroad and ended up taking classes in Germany in 1937 and 1938. While in Munich, Germany, Curley saw Adolf Hitler [Annotator's Note: German dictator Adolf Hitler] during a parade one afternoon. The environment in Germany was strange and said the people were vehemently anti-Semitic. He saw many municipal signs that read in German, "No Jews Allowed." He did not see any beatings or camps, but saw plenty of troops doing maneuvers, especially around the Polish border. Being a young man, he thought the German soldiers were over the top and kind of funny because the troops were so strict and disciplined. They did not seem threatening. Curley returned to the United States after his semester in Germany had ended, right before Hitler invaded Poland. He graduated from Phillips and began attending classes at Yale University [Annotator's Note: in New Haven, Connecticut] in 1940 studying Foreign Sociology and English. At Yale, Curley joined the ROTC [Annotator's Note: Reserve Officer Training Corps] and took Japanese language classes. He was in New York City [Annotator's Note: New York, New York] having a rendezvous with his girlfriend when he first learned about the attack on Pearl Harbor [Annotator's Note: The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on 7 December 1941]. They were going down a hotel elevator when the bellman told them about the event. Curley did not know where Pearl Harbor was located and neither did his girlfriend. Although, Curley was in the ROTC, war across the oceans seemed so far away, so he never thought America would be actively involved.

In his second year at Yale [Annotator's Note: Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut], Walter Joseph Patrick Curley Junior transferred from ROTC [Annotator's Note: Reserve Officer Training Corps] to the US Marine Corps Reserve. Yale sped up the courses for students in ROTC or the Reserves and Curley graduated in 1943. Immediately after graduation, Private Curley reported to Parris Island [Annotator's Note: Parris Island, South Carolina] for boot camp. The training was tough, and a lot of guys did not make it. After he completed training, Curley was sent to US Marine Corps Base, Quantico, Virginia for Officer Training. It was also difficult but worth it. Those who did not make it, were often devastated. Americans were very patriotic and most did not question whether the country should be a war. Every man, woman, and child wanted to do their part in the war efforts. That was the greatest weapon America had. Curley joined the Marine Corps because he saw that branch as warriors who fought in exotic places. He was also convinced by a friend of his who had already been in combat as a Marine. Prior to his activation, the Navy Department knew that Curley had taken classes in Japanese at Yale. After completing Officers school, Curley was shipped out to Camp Elliot [Annotator's Note: Camp Elliot near San Diego, California] for a five-month course in basic Japanese language. He mainly was taught to speak different commands in Japanese that would be used in combat. After he completed his language course, he was assigned to the MP [Annotator's Note: Military Police] Company, Headquarters Battalion, 5th Marine Division as a platoon leader. He continued to do physical training with his division.

In 1944, Walter Joseph Patrick Curley Junior trained in maneuvers, amphibious invasion training, and other physical fitness training [Annotator's Note: with the Military Police Company, Headquarters Battalion, 5th Marine Division] at Camp Pendleton, near Oceanside, California. He was then transferred to the base in San Diego [Annotator's Note: San Diego, California] and the division was finalized. His division was shipped out to Camp Tarawa in Hawaii [Annotator's Note: Camp Tarawa in Hilo, Hawaii] where they continued to train. Because Curley knew that his platoon would be sent to places with underground shelter, he asked his commanders if he could train his men in some of the Japanese commands to help expedite Japanese out of their dwellings. His language class was not very popular, but he was able to train a few of his platoon soldiers. On his time off, Curley and others went to movies, dances, visits with the Red Cross girls. They would invite the local girls over to camp, play records, listen to the radio, and write letters. They often went to the beach, attended luaus [Annotator's Note: Hawaiian feasts], hunted wild pig on horseback, and visited the volcano. He did a lot of socializing with the locals. Eventually his company was assembled and sent to Pearl Harbor [Annotator's Note: Pearl Harbor, Hawaii] for a few weeks, living in ship quarters. Then they set sail for the invasion of Iwo Jima [Annotator's Note: Battle of Iwo Jima, 19 February to 26 March 1945 at Iwo Jima, Japan].

On 19 February [Annotator' Note: 19 February 1945], Walter Joseph Patrick Curley Junior [Annotator's Note: with the Military Police Company, Headquarters Battalion, 5th Marine Division] invaded Iwo Jima [Annotator's Note: Battle of Iwo Jima, 19 February to 26 March 1945 at Iwo Jima, Japan]. Curley was awakened at four o'clock in the morning for an officer's meeting. He was informed that the Marines were going to invade the "Sulfur Islands," which was Iwo Jima. He was also told that it was the most highly defended island by the Japanese. As he went on deck before heading to breakfast, he saw as far as the eye could see, American combat vessels. He saw Navy ships, Coast Guard ships, and planes flying everywhere. The Naval bombardment had commenced. The Marines were given a breakfast of steak and eggs. Straight after breakfast, Curly and his platoon, along with a Navy photographer, descended a rope ladder into a landing craft where he was assigned as boat commander. They circled for an hour and at ten thirty in the morning invaded the island as part of the first wave of attack. He and his platoon were under immediate fire by the Japanese. They fought against mortars, artillery shells, machine guns, and snipers. The Japanese mowed the American Marines down because there was nowhere to hide. The terrain was gritty black volcanic sand. Curley saw bodies of Americans and Japanese everywhere, and the combat was so intense it felt surreal. As Curley pushed inland towards an airfield with his platoon, he needed a way to communicate with the company commander. A little Italian guy from Brooklyn [Annotator's Note: Brooklyn is one of the five boroughs in New York, New York], named Carachiro [Annotator's Note: phonetic spelling], was assigned as a runner because he was quick. With him moving back and forth, Curley was able to communicate with his company commander, nevertheless, combat was chaos. During the first night on the island, a Japanese mortar fired on Curley's company all night long. They dug foxholes in the sand and remained on the beach for a few days moving 20 yards a day. His first few days on the island, Curly questioned the existence of God and hated the Japanese for putting him in the situation. His platoon finally succeeded in their mission and took over the airfields on Iwo Jima. [Annotator's Note: Multiple video breaks 1:01:22.000 – 1:01:29.000.]

Walter Joseph Patrick Curley Junior [Annotator's Note: with the Military Police Company, Headquarters Battalion, 5th Marine Division] invaded Iwo Jima [Annotator's Note: Battle of Iwo Jima, 19 February to 26 March 1945 at Iwo Jima, Japan]. Capturing Iwo Jima was a strategic mission to shorten the time to win the war. Bomber planes needed a place to land after they bombed Tokyo [Annotator's Note: Tokyo, Japan] because they did not have enough fuel to make it back to their base in Guam [Annotator's Note: Guam, Marana Islands]. It was vital for the Marines to capture the two airfields and secure Iwo Jima from the Japanese. Their goal was to succeed this mission at all costs. 50,000 Americans and Japanese were killed on the island that was no bigger than the island of Manhattan [Annotator's Note: Manhattan is one of the five boroughs in New York, New York]. Every day on Iwo Jima was bad; some worse than others. His unit was the most left flank and closest to Mount Suribachi after they had secured the first airport. The island had a nauseating stench that was a combination of dead bodies, sulfur, and fear. On one occasion, he and a few others in his unit were given orders to take care of a small contingent of Japanese hiding in sulfur caves. Curley had a carbine [Annotator's Note: .30 caliber M1 semi-automatic carbine] and .45 automatic [Annotator's Note: .45 caliber M1911 semi-automatic pistol] from World War 1. The rest of his unit had their M1s [Annotator's Note: .30 caliber M1 semi-automatic rifle, also known as the M1 Garand]. When they entered the caves, it was hard to withstand the smell. Curley and his corporal came across a Japanese body but were not sure if he was dead. They discovered he was indeed alive and killed him as the Japanese was trying to attack them. Curly and the corporal moved several yards forward and found two more Japanese. One of the soldiers was dead by suicide, while the other was wounded. Curley dragged the wounded Japanese out of the cave and tried to interrogate him. He had no information to give him. They kept going in and bringing out more Japanese prisoners to question. Some refused to come out and began shooting at Curley and his unit, so the Marines bombed the cave shut. Curley also shot a Japanese soldier with his pistol on the beach. He searched the dead body and found his wallet it, with a picture of his assumed wife. Curley later found the name of the man he killed and mailed the photo to the address. He never heard back. His company lost many men while on Iwo Jima and there was no safe place on the island. After 36 days, his unit was removed from the island. Curley received recognition for his service on the island.

Walter Joseph Patrick Curley Junior [Annotator's Note: with the Military Police Company, Headquarters Battalion, 5th Marine Division] returned to Hawaii and was greeted with great reception. He was asked to join the 3rd Amphibious Corps [Annotator's Note: III Amphibious Corps] to become an aid to Brigadier General Worton [Annotator's Note: US Marine Corps Major General William Arthur Worton] and an interim aid for General Rockey [Annotator's Note: US Marine Corps Lieutenant General Keller Emrick Rockey] during the end of the Okinawa campaign [Annotator's Note: Battle of Okinawa, codenamed Operation Iceberg, 1 April to 22 June 1945 at Okinawa, Japan]. He interacted with locals on Okinawa and some of the head families. He learned about many of the Okinawans throwing themselves off the cliffs because the Japanese made them fear the Americans. He had no interactions with the Japanese.

Walter Joseph Patrick Curley Junior [Annotator's Note: with the 3rd Amphibious Corps] returned to Guam [Annotator's Note: Guam, Mariana Islands] after Okinawa [Annotator's Note: Battle of Okinawa, codenamed Operation Iceberg, 1 April to 22 June 1945 at Okinawa, Japan] to rest and prepare for the invasion of mainland Japan. Curley was in Guam when the atomic bombs [Annotator's Note: nuclear weapons dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, 6 and 9 August 1945] were dropped on Japan. He learned about the news on the radio. Even though Japan surrendered soon after the bombs, Curley was concerned about the Japanese still in China. He was sent to North China with the 3rd Amphibious Corps to help with occupation and assist Chiang Kai-Shek [Annotator's Note: Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek was the leader of the Republic of China between 1928 and 1975]. His duty was also to make sure the imperial Japanese army surrendered and to repatriate them. The surrendered of the Japanese in China took place in the city of Tianjin [Annotator's Note: Tianjin, China]. Curley was ordered by Worton [Annotator's Note: US Marine Corps Major General William Arthur Worton] to wear only his khakis because he knew that the Japanese would wear their dress uniforms. Curley remarked that the Americans were a little concerned if the Japanese in North China would go through with the surrender, but when they arrived in Tianjin, the Japanese were not hostile. After the signing, Curley received a warm and welcoming reception by the Chinese people. Curley's quarters were in the same hotel as a Japanese colonel. Every morning he saw the Japanese colonel who would salute Curley and then eat his breakfast. The Japanese military were ordered by the American military to keep guard of the railroads from the Communists. Curley was ordered by his commander to seize some mansions from a group of Germans living near a racetrack in order for the American superiors to occupy as living quarters. When Chiang Kai-Shek came to Tianjin, the American military welcomed him with a special dinner celebration. Curley sat next to Madame Chiang [Annotator's Note: Soong Mei-ling or Soong May-ling, also known as Madame Chiang Kai-shek or Madame Chiang, First Lady of the Republic of China] because he was the youngest officer. The superior officers exchanged gifts and one of the gifts was for Curley to aid Chiang Kai-Shek.

Walter Joseph Patrick Curley Junior [Annotator's Note: with the 3rd Amphibious Corps] returned to the United Stated after a year and half in China on a destroyer and disembarked on San Diego [Annotator's Note: San Diego, California]. When he left the United States, he was excited to go to war and to the great unknown, and on the return, home was more of a feeling of reflection. He often thought about the men who were lost on Iwo Jima [Annotator's Note: Iwo Jima, Japan]. He also was comforted that he did not have any duties and enjoyed the ride home. He also had a feeling of uncertainty about what he would do next. Curley dated a German girl while he was on occupation duty in China, even though he had a steady girlfriend in his hometown. [Annotator's Note: Video break at 2:02:28.000.] It is difficult to discuss the events of Okinawa [Annotator's Note: Battle of Okinawa, codenamed Operation Iceberg, 1 April to 22 June 1945 at Okinawa, Japan] and he prefers not to go into detail about it.

World War 2 changed Walter Joseph Patrick Curley Junior's life by making him aware of America's significance in this world. He also became aware of military and foreign policy which has affected his career path. After the war he became very interested in China and the ancient part of the world. Curley chose to go back to China by taking the foreign service examinations and went into diplomacy. He father convinced him to master's in business at Harvard [Annotator's Note: Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts]. He became raptured in the business world and used that degree to work business in India, Italy, England. He later became an ambassador in Ireland and France. He believes there should be institutions like the National WWII Museum [Annotator's Note: The National WWII Museum in New Orleans, Louisiana], and they should continue to teach World War 2 to future generations.