Curtin was not only one of the first responders to the Sept. 11 terrorist attack. He was also one of the first to respond to the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center. In addition, he received a great deal of notoriety for actions when he was deployed as a member of the NYPD Emergency Services Unit to the 1995 Oklahoma City Bombing.
During the rescue and recovery efforts in Oklahoma, Curtin was walking past an area that had been checked previously for casualties. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of some blue material with a red strip on it. He knew exactly what it was, the dress blue trouser leg of a Marine. He had discovered the remains of Capt. Randy Guzman, an officer in charge of the recruiting office at the Oklahoma City Federal Building.
Because the dangerous location, Curtin and a few others had to request special permission to endanger themselves to recover Guzman's remains. They were granted a four-hour window and were able to recover the body. The part of the whole recovery that caught the Nation's attention was how Guzman was carried out. A U. S. flag was draped over his body and it was ceremoniously saluted as they took it from the site.
When asked why he risked his own life to recover the remains of another Marine he simply replied, Marines don't leave their own behind.