Curtis K. Ritter was born on June 1, 1906, to William and Marie Koerner of Phoenixville. Curtis was the 9th of 10 children.
Curtis attended local schools in Phoenixville and ended his schooling after grammar school, most likely to help support his family.
Curtis worked at the Budd Manufacturing Company in Philadelphia as a metalsmith. Curtis married Ellen Brown of Berwyn.
Curtis entered service in the Army on November 3, 1943. He received training at Fort McClellan, Alabama with the 8th Infantry Division, 28th Regiment. He was sent to the European theater of operations in June, 1944.