Dean Duane Mulder

West Point, 1951

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Jose A. "Andy" Chacon on September 17, 2010:

Dean Duane Mulder Born December 31, 1927 -- Died September 14, 2010 Dean Duane Mulder was born in Prairie View, Kansas on 31 December 1927 and was appointed to West Point from the 6th Congressional Dis-trict. His West Point classmates recall: "From that Kansas farm via Kansas State, Korea with the Infantry, and the USMAPS to West Point, Dean has come a long way; he knows what he is working for; and he is sure of the attainment. His inherently friendly manner, his industrious nature, and his well-distributed abilities assure that success. Dean's effi-cient wrestler's approach gives him a pinning hold on his future in the service." During his cadet days Dean was a member of the Wrestling team all four years and captain of the team his first class year; was with the Debate Council and Camera Club yearling and cow years; with the Spanish Club yearling; and was a Cadet Sergeant his first class year. Upon graduation Dean went in the Artillery and after completing the Basic Artillery Course at Fort Sill, Oklahoma reported with the 319th Airborne Field Artillery Battalion during 1951 and 1952. His next as-signments were with the 108th Field Artillery Battalion, 28th Division in Europe 1953-55, the 101st Airborne Division 1956-58, the Artillery ad-vance course 1958-59 and graduate school USC 1959-61. In 1961 Dean earned a Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Southern California and was then assigned to Staff & Faculty of the Artillery and Guided Missiles School, Fort Sill, Okla-homa where he served from 1961 to 1964. His next assignments were to the 82nd Artillery, 1st Cavalry Division in Korea 1964-65 and to the Army's Foreign Science and Technology Center, Washington, DC 1965-68 where he was awarded the Legion of Merit for exceptionally merito-rious conduct in the performance of outstanding services. Next Dean went to Fort Benning 1968-70 where he served as the Deputy Com-mander of the Center Troop Command, the Executive Officer of the 2nd Training Brigade and finally as the commander of the 9th training Bat-talion. He was awarded the Commendation Medal for distinguished service on completion of his tour. Then Dean was appointed Command-ing Officer of the 6th Psychology Operations Battalion in the Republic of Vietnam. On completion of this duty Dean was decorated with a sec-ond Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the per-formance of outstanding services, and two Air Medals for meritorious achievement beyond that normally expected, while participating in ae-rial flight. On return to stateside Dean was assigned to the Defense In-telligence Agency where he served from 1971 to 1976 and was awarded the Joint Service Commendation Medal on completion of this tour. While at DIA Dean also earned a second Master of Science degree, this one from American University. Dean retired from the United States Army in 1976 as a Lieutenant Colonel and became associated with Greenbelt Homes Inc., then, in 1976 he became a Real Estate Broker until 1980 when he was appointed Plans Examiner/engineer with Prince George's County Government. He retired for a second time in 1996. Dean and his wife Nancy made their home in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. They had recently moved to Cold Springs, MD.

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