Mark Curtis is a 92-year-old veteran of World War II. He is also a hero, honored by the Tulsa County Sherriff’s Office for fighting off a robber.
“He could have killed me,” Curtis said.
Now, Curtis enjoys relaxing in his front yard with a cigarette, but there was a time when he didn’t have time for such pleasures.
He was a PoW for eleven days, received both the Purple Heart and Silver Star, was married for 65 years, raised two children and has two grandchildren.
He also fought off a man with a long knife who demanded his money.
“He said I want your damn money. I know I should have just given him the money I had in my billfold but something came through me and I just grabbed a hold of his arm.”
Curtis hit the robber in the jaw and knocked him down. “… I was trying to stomp his arm with the knife in it but when he rolled over a motorcycle pulled up there and he got on the back of it and took off.”
That was the last time he saw the man. He’s not scared if he comes back, though.
“Now when I go out and smoke, I usually carry my gun,” he said.
Normally the Tulsa County Sherriff’s Office doesn’t condone fighting off robbers, but when Sheriff Vic Regalado said that Curtis has seen worse.
“He is an American treasure,” the sheriff said.
Regalado made Curtis an honorary deputy for his heroism.
The sheriff said that they didn’t want just to reward him for fighting off a robber but to honor him for all he’s done for the country, KTUL reported.
“Well I thought it was awfully nice of them,” Curtis said.
The Tulsa Police Department is interested in any information about this incident. Please contact either them or the sheriff’s office with any information.