John Thornton Deden was born October 14, 1924 at Fort Smith, Sebastian Co., Ar. to Otto John & Laura Clyde Taylor Deden. On June 2, 1946 John married Anna D Arrington, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the wedding being in Fort Smith, Sebastian Co., Ar. John was a student at A & M College in Bryan, Texas in 1942. He served in the US Army Air Corps, with the rank of Lieutenant and the rank of Captain when he left the service. Not much is found about his time in the service. He served with the Fifteenth Air Force in Italy and was awarded the Air Medal. John's enlistment records were not found, nor his draft registration cards. Established on 1 November 1943, Fifteenth AF was a United States Army Air Forces combat air force deployed to the European Theater of World War II, engaging in strategic bombardment operations from bases in southern Italy and engaging in air-to-air fighter combat against enemy aircraft. Captain John Thornton Deden passed away June 16, 2011 and was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Houston, Harris County, Texas. His last residence being Missouri City, Fort Bend, Texas. July 1, 1943 Southwest American Fort Smith, Arkansas August 13, 1944 Southwest Times Record Fort Smith, Arkansas June 16, 1946 Daily Oklahoman