Purple Heart recipient, Mass. native dies while saving son and niece from drowning in Florida Boston 25 News [Video]

Family and friends are remembering a Massachusetts veteran who died while rescuing his son and niece from drowning in Florida.

Army veteran Joshua Curtis, 38, his wife and son settled in Halifax after he spent 15 years in the Army.

Curtis was in Jacksonville, Florida during April vacation last week, visiting some of his family.

His mother, Dawn Wall, told Boston 25’s sister station that Joshua’s 6-year-old son and his niece were at Fernandina Beach last Thursday looking for shark teeth when the two kids were caught in a rip current.

The Purple Heart and bronze star recipient jumped and pulled the kids out but drowned in the strong currents..

On Tuesday, his family and friends held a celebration of life down in Florida.

“He’s a warrior, and he sacrificed his life for the children,” Wall said.

Chris Wallace, Curtis’ cousin, said he was on his way to meet his …