Dean P. Hall
July 1, 1921 – April 12, 2013
DEAN P. Hall, age 91, passed away April 12, 2013. Dean was born July 1, 1921, in Plaineld, NJ, to Chester and Nell Hall. Dean is survived by his wife, Jean H. Hall; a son, Richard; a daughter Carol; step daughters, Susan, Marta and Myra; and a stepson, Chuck.
A baby-faced Dean Hall was drafted into the Army at the age of 21 and was assigned to the Army Air Force as a B-17 Flying Fortress top turret gunner/1st Engineer. He was assigned to a B-17 named "Herky Jerky" and went on to complete 25 bombing missions over France, Norway and Germany. Dean was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and was credited with shooting down a German ME-109 ghter during one of the missions. After his stint as a B-17 crewman he returned to the states to serve as an aerial gunnery instructor.
After he was released by the Army he worked for Mack trucks until January 1949. Dean missed the fun, travel and adventure of the military and in 1949 he applied for an Army commission and was appointed as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army Transportation Corps. His first assignment was in Guam and then Japan as a member of the 558th Amphibious Truck Company. The 558th moved on to Korea and was in North Korea when the Korean War broke out; the 558th's ducks traveled the length and breadth of Korea. Dean returned to Ft. Story, VA in November 1951. In 1954 he was sent to France and was promoted to Captain. In 1955 a reduction in force occurred and Dean accepted a reduction in rank to Sergeant First Class in the regular Army. Dean became the 1st Sergeant of Company A, 10th Ordnance Battalion, Fort Bliss, TX. The 10th was a nuclear weapons support company and Dean was sent to Sandia Base, NM for technical training. From Sandia Base Dean was sent to Killeen Base, TX, this time as a Chief Warrant Officer 2 Nuclear Weapons Technician. Dean continued to serve as a Chief Warrant Officer Nuclear Technician at Presidio of San Francisco (3 times); 23rd Ordnance Company/43rd Ordnance Group in West Germany; 50th Ordnance Co at Ft Carson, CO; 32nd Army Air Defense Command in Germany; the Office of the Inspector General, Korea and the Office of the Inspector General, United States Army Europe in Germany. Dean retired from the Army in 1975 as a CW4.
From 1975 till 1989 Dean worked for the United States Automobile Association (USAA) in San Antonio, TX and Tampa, FL. He retired from USAA in 1989 after 13 years with the firm. Dean and Jean moved to Rio Rancho, NM in 1993. This was now a time of leisure and Dean was finally able to devote some real attention to the love of his life, Jean. While square dancing was a favorite pastime of theirs world travel now took precedence. In all they have traveled to 94 countries to include India, Australia, a cruise around South America, etc.
Dean's military career was archived at the Library of Congress under the Veterans History Program. Dean and Jean had not forgotten their military roots and they enjoyed attending Eighth Air Force Historical Society luncheons. Dean was a member of the 95th Bomb Group (H) Memorials Foundation, the Air Force Gunners Association and The Distinguished Flying Cross Society. They both attended nuclear weapon warrant officer reunions and enjoyed the renewing of old friendships. Dean and Jean had many old friends and continued to keep in contact over the years. Dean, you will be missed. No public services have been scheduled.
To view information or leave a condolence please visit www.danielsfuneral.com Daniels Family Funeral Services 2400 Southern Blvd Rio Rancho, NM 87124 505-891-9192.
Albuquerque Journal (NM) - Tuesday, April 16, 2013