The veteran soldier

Michael Curtin served his country at home and abroad for over 44 years, and although now retired from the Defence Forces, he continues his military career in the leadership of the local branch of the Irish United Nations Veterans Association. He was born into a military family on The Strand, Athlone in 1942, and he was the second eldest of a family of four. In 1949, the Curtins became one of the first families in Assumption Road, while the terrace was still being built. Michael was second eldest after his sister Kitty, and he was older than both of his brothers, Jimmy and Val. "We were happy, we had a huge garden with our own food, one part vegetables, and one part with ducks, chickens and eggs, and if you wanted a chicken for dinner, you just had to go out the back," he said laughing. Michael went to Clonbonny, the Marist and the Technical schools, before working for a year in the Woollen Mills, and then he worked in the Adelphi Cinema. His now deceased friend Billy Wall encouraged Michael to join the army in November 1958. "Eamon Wykes, who lived beside us in Assumption Road, was the sergeant training us, and so was John Monaghan, who also lived in the terrace," said Michael. As early as 1960, when Michael was just 18 years old, he became a corporal in the army, after doing the NCO course. The men of the Western Command headed to the Belgian Congo in Africa in 1960, and Michael went in after the Jadotville incident, as part of the 36th Battalion, and was stationed in Elizabethville. He did his six-month tour of duty, and returned there in 1963 with the 39th Battalion from Custume Barracks and a full platoon from the Curragh. Michael was part of the last battalion in the Congo, in October 1963, and when he returned to Ireland, he and Betsy (nee Glavey from the Batteries) got married. "Bets and me met while dancing in the Roseland in Moate, to the showband groups," said Michael. "Even though we were from Athlone, we didn't know each other, till we met in Moate. They were good auld days, and we also loved Sportex Hall dances, near Gentex, that was the best. We went to the Crescent as well, and it was a mineral bar of tea and coffee." Most people born before the early 1950s remember where they were when the American President, John F. Kennedy was shot. Michael and Betsy were on their honeymoon, and returning from Dublin, when they heard about the assassination. "We were on the train in Tullamore, and coming back that to Athlone on November 22, 1963," said Michael. "At the station, someone shouted that Kennedy was shot and after that we heard that he died." Michael and Betsy were one of the last couples to move into the newly-built Tormey Villas, Athlone in 1966. They went on to raise six children, Yvonne, Eilish, Martina, Michael, Michelle and Keith, there, and the couple remain happy in the terrace to this day. In the meantime, before he moved to Tormey Villas, Michael returned to active duty on another UN mission, this time in Famagusta, Cyprus in 1964. "It was a lovely island but the thing was you had two sides, the Turks on one side and the Greeks on the other, and the green line between them," said Michael. "The whole thing was very organised by the army, and I was based all over the island." He returned to Lefke, Cyprus Island in 1967, with the 8th infantry group, and he returned again, in 1970, to Larnaca, Cyprus with the 19th Infantry group, which made it three tours of duty to the Mediterranean island. In 1970, Michael became a founder member of the Tormey Villas, Assumption Road and St Kieran's Terrace Residents Association, and he was their first treasurer. The association went from strength to strength, and built a playground and community centre over the years. The Cyprus UN missions ended for the Irish defence forces in 1973, and there was a five-year break before the soldiers went overseas again. In 1978, the call went up to do peacekeeping in Lebanon in the Middle East. The first commander in Lebanon was Maj Gen VF Savino from Dublin, and he was in the same unit with Michael in the 60s and 70s. The Major General was the founder of the Irish United Nations Veterans Association, and Michael is now chairman of the local association. Michael also did duties on the border in different parts of Co. Donegal, including Lifford, Rockhill, and then moved to Finner Camp for six months. "We were there as an aid to the civil powers," said Michael. He became a Sergeant in 1970 around the time he was in Cyprus, and he was stationed in the Curragh in 1971/72, and then did a course to become Company Sergeant, and he got promoted as a CS in 1974. Michael became Sergeant Major at age 36, and had been acting in that role following the retirement of Bill Jackson, who was also known as one of the footballers on the Roscommon '43 and '44 All-Ireland winning teams. Michael went out to Lebanon in 1980/81, and spent a lot of time doing duty in the country's mountains, and then back down to Camp Shamrock. Betsy joined Michael in Lebanon on his second tour there in 1983, and he said she enjoyed the country very much, and they visited many places including Masada - an ancient site in Israel. Michael retired from the Defence Forces in 2002 after almost 44 years. He started working with his brother Jimmy, who had started 'The Cook House' takeaway business beside Tormey Villas. "At the time, Jimmy had three shops going, and I was the driver, and did the books, and it kept me going, because when you come out of the army, you need to do something to stay active," said Michael. He remained working at the Cook House for about five years, and since then, Michael got involved in IUNVA, when its Athlone branch, Post 9, started in 2009. "We've marched in the Athlone, St Patrick's Day Parade since 2010 and we've also marched in the Clara and Moate parades, and it's great to do those as long as they don't clash," said Michael. Michael, who became Chairperson of Post 9 IUNVA on January 29th last, which was his 70th birthday, said that to become a member of IUNVA, you must be an Irish citizen, and have served with the United Nations. You can be a civilian or either a serving or ex-serving military person. "We do a lot of charity work, and gave €15,000 to local charities in 2010 and 2011 and over €6,000 in the past few months," he said. "We sent eight people in 2011 to Lourdes, as part of the fundraising. We are also sending ten people this year to Lourdes, as part of the Carmelite pilgrimage." Michael said that IUNVA will have its national convention in Athlone on July 7 and 8 this year, and its expect to bring many members and partners from all over the Republic to Athlone. "We also do the military end of funerals for deceased members, by doing guards of honour outside the morgue or at the church or graveyard," said Michael. "We have a bugler, who plays the last post and reveille and we are very proud of our national monument out at Coosan graveyard." He revealed that the IUNVA garden in Coosan will host a resting place for eighteen deceased members in time to come. "We thought about people who were down and out with nobody belonging to them, so we decided that if anyone wishes to be buried at the plot in Coosan, they can do so," said Michael. "So far two people have requested to be buried there." IUNVA lays wreaths at their memorial garden on Cemetery Sunday, and on Easter Sunday. Michael, speaking as Chairperson of IUNVA said that he hopes the 4th Western Brigade won't be disbanded, and said that Post 9 branch has written to Taoiseach, Enda Kenny about the matter. "We've asked him to look at it again, because we believe that the western command should be left in the west where it is, and we have asked him to meet us," said Michael.