Harold Dean Durden was born August 31, 1925 in Fort Smith, Sebastian Co., Ar. to Clarence Arthur & Mary W. Eades Durden. June 10, 1948 he married Dorothy Jean Parker, both residing at Fort Smith, Sebastian Co., Ar. A draft registration card has not been found for his original sevice in the Army Air Corps with his enlistment beginning November 24, 1943 thru October 21, 1945. He has a later draft registration card below dated October 24, 1945 in Fort Smith, Sebastian Co. Arkansas. Harold served with the 465th Bombardment Group. During his service he received the following medals and awards: 12/22/1944 - Air Medal (AM) Rank - SGT Fort Smith AR 03/28/1945 Air Medal (AM) Oak Leaf Cluster (OLC) Rank - SSGT Fort Smith AR 05/07/1945 Air Medal w/ 2 Oak Leaf Cluster (OLC) Rank - SSGT Fort Smith AR The Air Medal (AM) is a military decoration of the United States Armed Forces. It was created in 1942 and is awarded for single acts of heroism or meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight. After the 1st Air Medal (AM)award subsequent awards are annotated with the traditional oak leaf clusters (or OLCs). Harold Dean Durden passed away December 16 2008 in Sherwood, Pulaski Co., Ar. and is buried in the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery at No. Little Rock, Pulaski Co., Ar. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~` Harold (Hal) Dean Durden, 83 of Sherwood, Ar. passed away Tuesday Dec.16, 2008. He was born August 31, 1925 in Ft. Smith , Ar. To Clarence Durden and Mary Eades Durden. He worked for Crane Co. for 30 years, then upon retirement worked several more years for Gib Wilson Enterprises in North Little Rock. He was a S/SGT in the Army Air Corps 780th Bombardment Squadron in World War II. He attended University of Arkansas and was a Razorback Letterman. Other than the love and devotion of his family he was an avid fisherman and enjoyed great music and sports. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Dorothy Jean Durden; son, Ralph Steven Durden; his mother, Mary Eades Durden and his father, Clarence Durden. He is survived by his second wife of 33 years, Suzy Durden of Sherwood Ar., Stepdaughter' Julie Clayton, husband Chris and Grandchildren, Kyle and Landon Clayton; Daughter, Becky Jean Dorsey, husband Tommy Dorsey of Mesquite, Tx; Grandson, Duane Steven Dorsey, wife Misha Dorsey of Houston, Tx; Granddaughter, D'Lana Renee Dorsey of Heartland, Tx; Daughter, Sandy Dean Durden; Granddaughter, Candice Humphries; Great Granddaughters, Courtney Caputo Humphries and Haven Humphries of Van Buren, Ar. Memorial Service will be Friday, December 19, 2008 at Huson Funeral Home in Sherwood, with Interment to follow at Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery , Sherwood, Ar.