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<em>Clifford Guldlin “Dede” Simenson </em>was born in Valley City, ND, the middle of seven sons born to Ole and Louise Simenson, first-generation Norwegian pioneers. In high school, he was president of his junior and senior classes, quarterback of the football team, played trumpet in the school band, and for three years was bugler of G Company, 164th Infantry National Guard. He attended the University of North Dakota and pledged Beta Theta Pi fraternity. In 1930 he joined his brother Edwin ’32 at West Point, playing ice hockey, lacrosse, and soccer, earning a Major “A” in lacrosse and Minor “A” in hockey. After graduation, Dede, an Infantry officer, was assigned to the 29th Infantry at Ft. Benning, GA. There, on Flag Day 1938, he married Evelin M. Schillerstrom, the only child of COL Merl P. Schillerstrom ’09. Evelin and Dede’s first station was the Philippines. From 1938 to 1941, they were in Zamboanga, Manila, and Baguio. They returned to the U.S. in October 1941, one of the last families to leave the Philippines before the Japanese invasion.</p>
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In early 1942 Dede commanded L Company, 2d Infantry Division, at Ft. Custer, MI, and then was assigned to the G-3 Section of Headquarters, Army Ground Forces, under GEN Lesley J. McNair, at the post now named “Ft. McNair.” There, Dede’s mobilization work earned him promotions from captain to lieutenant colonel in 18 months. After a three-month course at CGSC, he served a short time with the Airborne Command, sneaking in his one and only parachute jump.</p>
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In 1944, Dede became the S-3 of the newly activated 23rd Headquarters Special Troops, a unit that employed decoys and false communications to deceive the enemy as to the location of major units. The 23rd participated in 21 operations in five countries, from Omaha Beach on. After the war, the Army characterized the influence of such a small unit on the outcome of a war as unprecedented.</p>
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Dede next commanded battalions in the 75th and 90th Infantry Divisions in Germany and from 1945 to 1947 was chief, operations section, Headquarters, European Theater, in Frankfurt, where he was joined by Evelin and two-year-old daughter Bonnie.</p>
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From 1947 to 1950, Dede was at the Infantry School at Ft. Benning, GA, where daughter Joanne was born. During 1950–53, he was assigned to Joint War Plans at the Pentagon and promoted to colonel. Subsequently, in Korea he commanded the 14th Infantry Regiment, 25th Division before serving as the X Corps assistant chief of staff, G-3. Graduating from the Army War College in 1955, Dede served in Combat Developments, Headquarters, Continental Army Command, Ft. Monroe, VA.</p>
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Dede then studied German at the Army Language School and attended the Army Strategic Intelligence School before assignment as the Army attaché to West Germany, 1959–62, a tumultuous time that saw the Berlin Wall go up in 1961. Dede’s friendly approach, however, fostered German/U.S. relations and assisted in blending the military strengths of the two countries. In 1962, Chancellor Conrad Adenaur awarded Dede the German Iron Cross, one of the first given to an American.</p>
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Dede’s final assignment was as sector commander with reserve components at Ft. Snelling, MN. His work there was widely appreciated, and the mayor of Fairbault appointed him an Honorary Citizen.</p>
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Dede received the Combat Infantry Badge, three Legions of Merit, two Bronze Stars, and the Army Commendation Medal, as well as the American Defense Service, American Theatre, European Theatre-African-Middle Eastern Theatre, WWII Victory, Army of Occupation (Germany), National Defense, United Nations Service (Korea), and the Korea United States medals. Badges earned included the War Department General Staff Identification Badge, Glider Badge, and Expert Badge with the rifle, pistol, bayonet, automatic rifle, and machine gun. He also received the French Croix de Guerre with Palm, the French Medal of Liberty (Normandy), the Korean Ulchi Cross with Silver Star, and the aforementioned Iron Cross.</p>
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Dede, however, was most proud of three accomplishments: his assistance with the mobilization of 9.5 million soldiers for WWII; his contributions to Marshall Plan at the end of WWII; and his participation in the debates at the Pentagon concerning the prevention of WWIII.</p>
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Retiring to Boulder, CO, Dede devoted much time to community service. The Kiwanis Club and the Centennial Committee recognized his work for the handicapped, and the Boulder County Commissioners honored Dede as an outstanding volunteer. He also was a founder and first president of the Boulder County Chapter of The Retired Officers Association and served two years as vice chairman of the Colorado Council of Chapters.</p>
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In Colorado, Dede had many hunting, fishing, and camping buddies. Their “Muffin Club” met weekly for drinking coffee, planning trips, and swapping war stories. Dede loved going for walks and working in his garden, and there were few things he could not fix. Dede missed boating, however. His most memorable boating experience was sailing a 30-meter sailboat on the Baltic Sea.</p>
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In 1984, their daughter Joanne moved into a newly-built apartment in her parents’ home with her two young children, Renee and Eric. In 1990, their other daughter, Bonnie, and her husband (retired LTC David Linder ’66), and their three children, Alissa, Grant, and Christina, moved to nearby Colorado Springs, CO. Dede felt very blessed to have his family living close by, and he always attributed his happiness and success to Evelin. Joanne served as a caregiver for Evelin, who passed away in 1992, and for Dede until his passing in 2004.</p>
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Dede had a great sense of humor, wit, and charm. He was a leader, incisive thinker, and a model of character, integrity, and grace. On what would have been his 95th birthday, Dede was interred at Arlington National Cemetery, alongside his beloved Evelin.</p>
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Duty, Honor, Country. “Well Done.”</p>
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<em>His loving daughters</em></p>