Harold Dean Durden was born August 31, 1925 at Fort Smith, Sebastian Co., Ar. to Clarence Arthur & Jessie Marie Bynum Durden. Hal married Dorothy Jean Parker of Fort Smith, Ar on June 10, 1948. They were divorced March of 1965 in Florida. In 1975 Hal married his second wife Suzy. The second wife's name is from his obituary. October 24, 1945 Hal registered for the military draft at Fort Smith, Ar. His enlisted with the Army Air Corps on November 24, 1943. SSGT Durden served his country in World War II with the 465th Bombardment Group. (Originally activated in 1943 as the 465th Bombardment Group, a World War II United States Army Air Forces combat organization. The group served primarily in the Mediterranean, African, and Middle East Theater of World War II and was awarded two Distinguished Unit Citations for its actions in the summer of 1944.) His obit below says he served with the Army Air Corps 780th Bombardment Squadron. For more information on these two groups click HERE During his service he was awarded the following medals: 12/22/1944 Award: Air Medal Rank: SGT From: FORT SMITH AR 03/28/1945 Award: Air Medal w/ Oak Leaf Cluster Rank: SSGT From: Fort Smith AR 05/07/1945 Award: Air Medal w/ Oak Leaf Cluster Rank: SSGT From: Fort Smith AR SSGT Durden's discharge date from the service was October 21, 1945. December 16, 2008 he passed away. His address at that time was Sherwood, Pulaski Co, Arkansas. He was buried in the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery in North Little Rock, Pulaski Co., Ar. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Harold (Hal) Dean Durden, 83, of Sherwood passed away Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2008. He was born Aug. 31, 1925, in Fort Smith 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 staff sergeant in the Army Air Corps 780th Bombardment Squadron in World War II. He attended the 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; stepdaughter, Julie Clayton, husband Chris, and grandchildren, Kyle and Landon Clayton; daughter, Becky Jean Dorsey, husband Tommy Dorsey of Mesquite, Texas; grandson, Duane Steven Dorsey, wife Misha Dorsey of Houston; granddaughter, DLana Renee Dorsey of Heartland, Texas; daughter, Sandy Dean Durden; granddaughter, Candice Humphries; great-granddaughters, Courtney Caputo Humphries and Haven Humphries of Van Buren. Visitation will take place on Friday, Dec. 19, 2008, at Huson Funeral Home, 7700 Arkansas 107 in Sherwood, from 10 to 11 a.m.; memorial service to be held at 11 a.m. Interment will immediately follow at Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery in Sherwood. In lieu of flowers, the family request that donations be made to the North Little Rock Animal Shelter, 1 Championship Drive, North Little Rock, AR 72113 or Arkansas Hospice, 5600 W. 12th St., Little Rock, AR 72204. Funeral arrangements entrusted to Huson Funeral Home. Online guest book at www.husonfuneralhome.com.