Curtis was assigned to the Marine Barracks Quantico, Virginia, and served there during the whole duration of World War I. He was transferred to the 1st Provisional Brigade of Marine and sent for duties in Haiti on June 1, 1920. Curtis was transferred to Garde d'Haïti in January 1922 and served there until October 1923, when he returned to the United States. He was assigned back to the Marine Barracks Quantico after his arrival, but at the beginning of April 1924, Curtis was transferred to the Naval Submarine Base New London, Connecticut, where he was appointed commanding officer of the local Marine detachment.