Staff Sergeant Curtis “Moose” Oakes died serving during Operation Enduring Freedom. He was a Fire Support Sergeant assigned to B Troop, 1st Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, KY. He was killed when an Afghan police trainee turned his weapon on U.S. soldiers in a so-called Green-on-Blue incident in Pachir Wa Agam District, Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan.

At a little over 6’6” tall, Curtis towered over everybody. When he walked into a room, everybody could feel his presence. He was larger than life, a true character, with a personality that matched his size and an even bigger heart. He always cared for people, whether he knew them or not, and his sense of humor was out of this world.

We will always miss Curtis, his character, his sense of humor, and his great generousity.