Joy Monroe Deen

April 30, 1942

CADET TO START FINAL PHASE OF FLIGHT TRAINING

Aviation Cadet JOY M. DEEN, son of James E. Deen of Bunnell, has completed approximately two-thirds of his pilot training and will report at the air corps advanced flying school, Moody Field, Valdosta, Ga., for the final phase of his flight training before receiving his wings and commission.

Before entering the air corps, Mr. Deen taught school at Perrine, Florida, after graduating from the local high school and Southern College at Lakeland.

At the completion of his course he will be given his wings and commission as a Second Lieutenant in the air corps.

May 14, 1942

Flagler County has 74 men in the various branches of the armed forces at this time ..... the list up to date is as follows: JOY MONROE DEEN

May 28, 1942

SCHUTZ-DEEN

Mr. and Mrs. A. T Schultz of Miami Florida announce the marriage of their daughter Martha to Cadet JOY MONROE DEEN of Bunnell Florida April 26, 1942.

Cadet Deen is the son of J. E. Deen and grandson of Mrs. C. E. Sisco of Bunnell. He is a member of the U.. S. Army Air Corps and is stationed at Moody Field in Valdosta Georgia where he is receiving his advanced training.

July 2, 1942

JOY DEEN TO GET WINGS FRIDAY

Cadet JOY MONROE DEEN, son of Mr. James E. Deen of Bunnell, is scheduled to graduate tomorrow from the Army Air Force Advanced Flying School at Moody Field, Valdosta, Georgia, according to an announcement received here from the public relations office.

At the graduation exercises, Cadet Deen will receive his "wings" and be commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army Air Force.

October 1, 1942

LT. JOY DEEN has recently been transferred to Fort Myers, Florida, where he is an instructor in flying.

January 7, 1943

First Lieutenant JOY DEEN and Mrs. Deen are here this week visiting Mr. Deen's relatives. Lt. Deen is stationed at Ft. Myers and this is his first visit here since last July.

April 8, 1943

A nice long letter from 1st Lt. JOY DEEN from down at Sebring, Florida, where is an instructor in flying, tells us he is faring well and that he expects to go up for captain's bars when the signs are right. In the meantime, however, "I need more time and sweat." We wish Lt. Deen luck and hope he makes it!

June 24, 1943

Army Pilot 1st Lt. JOY DEEN of Avon Park and Ensign DUANE DEEN of the Naval Station in Deland, were in Bunnell over the weekend, visiting their father J. E. Deen and other relatives. Their father celebrated his 65th birthday Monday.

October 7, 1943

A nice long letter from 1st Lt. JOY DEEN who is still at Avon Park, Florida, but expects to be transferred to McDill Field, at Tampa. Joy is a pilot and has been instructing at Avon Park for more months than he likes. He wants to get into action and kicks against the monotony of almost constantly following the "flight pattern" but, kicking does no good. He said he had done "some ferrying" this summer "which helped some."

(We would say to Joy - and the many others in the various outfits who want something else - that from our past military experience it is best to take what you are doing philosophically and laugh about the tough breaks because, in most cases, a guy in service arrives sooner or later at the point where he can't be content to stay anyplace or at any particular job. Another thing to remember is that what you are doing - believe it or not - is just as important as any other job. Otherwise, the higher ups would move you. So take it easy, fellows. You can't win a war all by yourself)

November 18, 1943

Lt. JOY DEEN has been in Tyler, Texas, for a short say but is back at Lakeland, Florida, again.

February 3, 1944

Mrs. Susie Sisco, grandmother of Lt. JOY DEEN, received a letter from him this week. He is in Brazil. Landed there a short time ago. Joy said in the letter that where he crossed the Amazon River, it was 85 miles wide.

February 10, 1944

Mrs. Susie Sisco reports that she has received a letter from her grandson, Lt. JOY DEEN from somewhere in North Africa.

March 23, 1944

A V-Mail from Lt. JOY DEEN to say he is out of flight training in Florida and am not in England and out for better hunting. We have pretty nice quarters and good food. We are supposed to live like Kings, being combat boys. At times I pity the Kings. I can’t crab much, however, as we don’t expect the best over here.

The Red Cross and Salvation Army are doing a great job. Tell the people that with more help back in the States, this job would be greatly simplified and our lot more easy. I only hope the home front this year puts more effort into the war than ever before. If the pressure could be held another year, things would be much better. Keep the pressure up at home and we’ll do more than that over here.”

(OK Joy. We’ll tell ‘em and do our best to keep it up)

April 6, 1944

Lt. JOY DEEN, bomber pilot in England, was recently awarded the air medal, we have been advised. (Congrats, Joy).

In a letter to his grandmother here, Mrs. C. E. Sisco, he said he has a piece of Flak for this scribe. (Thanks, Old Top, that's the only way we want to receive any, but we'll certainly be glad to get it)

May 4, 1944

JOY DEEN, B-26 pilot in England is now a "flight commander" and has been awarded the oak leaf cluster. (Congratulations, Joy, and good luck)

July 20, 1944

Each week brings reports or outstanding records made, not only here in the States, but in far places as well. This week comes news of Lt. JOY (ABE) DEEN, stationed. in England with the Ninth Air Force, saying he has been awarded the Air Medal and five Oak Leaf Clusters. He has, also, been commended three times for accurate bombing in combat.

In writing to his father here, J. E. Deen, Joy said that his first plane had set a record in the European theater, it having over fifty missions with less flak damage than any other plane. Joy added "it surely was taking good care of us."

(Congratulations Joy! We are proud of you and we hope the new plane will take just as good care of you as the old one did.)

August 3, 1944

LT. JOY DEEN IS REPORTED AS 'MISSING'

First Lieutenant JOY M. DEEN, B-26 pilot with the Ninth Air Force in England, has been reported as "missing in action." The War department notified his wife who lives in Miami and she wired his aunt, Mrs. C. O. Magee here Wednesday.

Lt. Deen entered the air force in November 1941, and went to England last December. Since being with the Ninth Air Force there he was awarded the Air Medal, five Oak Leaf Clusters and two citations for accurate bombing of targets.

Lt. Deen was graduated from Bunnell high and Florida Southern College at Lakeland, and taught school in Dade County before entering the army.

March 8, 1945

LT. JOY M. DEEN KILLED IN ACTION ON JULY 19, 1944

The Tribune has just learned that Lt. JOY M. DEEN, reported by the War Department as missing in action July 19, 1944, was killed in action on that date.

He was the grandson of J. E. Deen and the grandson of Mrs. C. E. Sisco of Bunnell. Mrs. Sisco gave the information to The Tribune. Lt. Deen's wife resides in Miami.

His wife, Martha, received from Maj. Gen. J. A. Ulio in Washington that "The report received from the German government through the International Red Cross contained only the fact that he died on July 19, 1944. Since it gives the date of his death as the same date he was previously reported missing in action, it has been officially recorded on the records of the War Department that he was killed in action on that date x x x "

Mrs. Deen also received a letter from General H. H. Arnold wherein Gen. Arnold said, in part: "As an officer he displayed outstanding diligence and resourcefulness, and the conscientious manner in which he performed assignments earned the respect and admiration of all who were associated with him."

In addition she also received a letter of condolence from President Roosevelt.

Lt. Deen was a graduate of Bunnell High School and Florida Southern College, and was teaching in the Dade county public school system prior to entering the army. He received his wings at Moody Field, Valdosta, Ga. in 1942 and was an instructor at the army air field at Avon Park several months before going overseas in November 1943.

In a letter to Mrs. Deen, Secretary of War Henry L. Simpson said "You will shortly receive the Purple Heart Medal, which has been posthumously awarded by directions of the President to your husband x x x it is sent as a tangible expression of the country's gratitude for his gallantry and devotion x x x "

The official notification of Lt. Deen's, death stated that he was lost "over France." He was a bomber pilot and it is believed he was flying a B-26 at the time of his death.

May 3, 1945

MEDALS AWARDED TO LT. JOY DEEN POSTHUMOUSLY

Public relations office of the Army Air Forces Redistribution Station No.2, Miami Beach, has sent The Tribune the following:

"The Air Medal with six Oak Leaf Clusters has been awarded posthumously to 1st Lt. JOY M. DEEN, 26, a native of Bunnell, who lost his life when his medium bomber was shot down by flak over Nantes, France, July 19, 1944.

His widow, Mrs. Martha J. Deen, of South Miami, accepted the decoration from Lt. Col. Louis D. Cooper, commanding officer of Redistribution Station No.2.

Lt. Deen, a B-26 Marauder pilot, was a veteran of 35 missions from England when he went down. He was born in Bunnell, graduated from Southern college, Lakeland, and taught school in Perrine before joining the AAF in 1941. He went overseas in January 1944.

Mrs. Deen lives with her parents in South Miami."

August 9, 1945

A nice long letter from Sgt. Dudley W. Benson, who is now at Nancy, France. (Congratulations Sergeant.) I might add that there is some good food for thought there.

"It's been quite a good while since I have written to you but I was reminded often, for your paper has arrived quite regularly and there was always interesting news about Flagler counties and particularly the fellows, and girls, too, in service. The news of JOY DEEN'S death came just recently however, and I was shocked.

If the relatives and family will forgive me for using this medium, I would like to extend my deepest sympathy in their bereavement on the loss of son, brother and husband, JOY DEEN.

I often recall, and sometimes with envy, his high school record as student and athlete. He had the resourcefulness to finish college and later was a successful teacher. He served his country in a sacrificial manner, giving up home, freedom and his loved ones and paid the supreme sacrifice -death in the service of his country. He fought for better things - for decent living, freedom, cleanliness and Godliness for all, for unselfishness, for a decent break for all who want it.

He was, indeed, a credit to his people, his home, his friends, his community, and his country. I hope they don't let him down.

There are many like him and it is the responsibility of the rest of us to carry through.