Autry C. Deel

Autry C. Deel 

Private Autry Clint Deel was born on August 10, 1908 to Helen and Luther Deel in Holdenville, Oklahoma. After high school, Deel became a welder and married Thelma Preston in 1934. On November 13, 1943, Deel entered the United States Army and was assigned to the 35th Infantry Division, 134th Infantry Regiment.
The 35th Infantry Division landed on Omaha Beach in Normandy France on July 5, 1944. On July 11, the Division entered combat and fought in the Normandy hedgerows outside of St. Lo, fighting off stiff German resistance before entering the City of St. Lo on July 18. Racing across France, the 35th Division cross the Saar river and entered Germany on December 12, 1944. 
On Christmas Day, 1944, Deel and the 35th Division began moving into Belgium to take part in relieving the besieged American forces encircled by the Germans at Bastogne, Belgium.
By January 1, 1945 the 35th Division had dug a defensive position near Bastogne, expecting a German attack. That afternoon, the 134th Infantry Regiment attacked the German lines and advanced toward Lutrebois, capturing part of the village by the end of the day.
During these actions near Bastogne on January 1, 1945, Autry Clint Deel, a soldier of the 134th Infantry Regiment, 35th Division suffered a gunshot wound to the head and died.
Autry Clint Deel was 36 years old when he was killed. He is buried in Holdenville, Oklahoma.

By Tanner Christy