William Dean served in the U.S. Army as a First Lieutenant in the 328th Regiment, 26th Infantry Division, 3rd Army in World War II. He was killed in March 13, 1945 as he was leading his company in clearing Hocker Hill, Germany near the Saar River, down the axis of the Siegfreid Line for the Armored Division to follow. He was awarded the Infantrymans Combat Medal and the Purple Heart.