Robert Marcel Derdeyn was born November 1, 1919 at Fort Smith, Sebastian Co., Ar. to Maurice Leonardo Aldophus & Lucile Marguerite Hall Derdeyn. His father Maurice was born in Belgium. June 1, 1948 Robert married Margaret Elizabeth "Betty" Hubenthal. at Fort Smith, Sebastian Co, Ar. Robert again married Margaret Elizabeth December 20, 1982 at Neosho, Newton Co., Mo. They were residents of Oklahoma at that time. Robert enlisted in the US Air Force March 15, 1943 at Fort Smith, Sebastian Co., Ar. His discharge date was April 21, 1944. He again enlisted in the US AF April 22, 1944 and served until December 4, 1945 with the 450th Bombardment Group 721st Squadron. See more below. On the 1950 census Robert & "Elizabeth" were living in Fort Smith, Sebastian Co., Ar. His occupation was "Training Officer" with the Veterans Administration. Robert Marcel Derdeyn passed away February 12, 1996 at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. His burial was in Resurrection Memorial Cemetery in Oklahoma City, Ok. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ` 450th Bombardment Group 721st Squadron The 450th Bombardment Group was originally activated in 1943 and saw combat during World War II as a B-24 Liberator heavy bombardment group under Fifteenth Air Force in Italy. They were known as "The Cottontails" because the vertical stabilizers of the bombers were painted white. The unit received two Distinguished Unit Citations in support of the invasion of Southern France, the advance of Russian troops in the Balkans, and the Allied effort in Italy. The 721st Bombardment Squadron was first activated in 1943. After training with Consolidated B-24 Liberators in the United States, it deployed to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, where it participated in the strategic bombing campaign against Germany, earning two Distinguished Unit Citations. After V-E Day, the squadron returned to the United States and briefly trained with Boeing B-29 Superfortresses but it was inactivated following Japan's surrender. 2nd Lt. Robert Derdeyn military medals received while serving his country were: 08/09/1944 AM Air Medal (AM) 2LT Fort Smith AR 10/27/1944 AM/2OLC Air Medal (AM) Oak Leaf Cluster (OLC) 2LT Fort Smith AR 12/03/1944 AM/3OLC Air Medal (AM) Oak Leaf Cluster (OLC) 2LT FORT SMITH AR 03/03/1945 DFC Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) 2LT 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 fligh. After the 1st Air Medal (AM)award subsequent awards are annotated with the traditional oak leaf clusters (or OLCs). The Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) is a military decoration of the United States Armed Forces. The medal was established on July 2, 1926, and is currently awarded to any persons who, after April 6, 1917, distinguish themselves by single acts of heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight. Both heroism and extraordinary achievement are entirely distinctive, involving operations that are not routine. May 11, 1944 Pauls Valley Democrat Pauls Valley, Oklahoma February 13, 1996 Daily Oklahoman Oklahome City, Oklahoms February 14, 1996 Daily Oklahoman Oklahome City, Oklahoms