Major General Dean Van Lydegraf was graduated from the University of Oregon with the class of 1944. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of Infantry 7 January l944 upon graduation from Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning and he joined the 301st Infantry Regiment, 94th Infantry Division in training at Camp McCain, Mississippi. | He subsequently accompanied the 94th Infantry Division to the European Theater of Operations in August 1944 where he participated in four campaigns as a platoon leader and later as a member of the regimental staff. In February 1945, he was wounded in action near Nennig, Germany, in the Saar-Moselle Triangle. He was released from active duty in June 1946 and recalled to active duty in December 1946 at Fort Ord, California, where he served as a Staff Officer with the 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division until September 1947. He was commissioned a First Lieutenant Regular Army, in the Quartermaster Corps 19 June 1947. | After attendance at the Basic Quartermaster Class, at Fort Lee, Virginia, he served in Panama until June 1950 as a Company Commander and Depot Supply Officer at the Corazal General Depot, and as a logistics officer in the J-4 Office, Headquarters, Caribbean Command. | He attended the Quartermaster Advanced Course and served on the faculty of the Quartermaster School, at Fort Lee, Virginia, until December 1952. After attendance at Babson Institute, Wellesley, Massachusetts, where he received his Masters Degree in Industrial Management in June 1954, then he served in Korea as a supply staff officer with Headquarters Korean Communications Zone and later with Headquarters Eighth Army. | From January 1956 to July 1957 he served in the Office of the Quartermaster General, Washington, D. C., as Assistant Chief to the Finance and Accounting Officer. In July 1957 he became Assistant Executive Officer to the Quartermaster General, remaining in that position for the next two years. | Following completion of the Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. | In June 1960, he served in the Office of the Quartermaster, United States Army Pacific, Fort Shafter, Hawaii, as Chief, Class II and IV division, and as a Plans Officer. | After graduation from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, at Fort Leslie J. McNair, in Washington, D. C. in June of 1964, he joined the 2d Infantry Division at Fort Benning, Georgia, where he commanded the 2d Supply and Transportation Battalion until May 1965, and the Division Support Command, until August 1965. | He served as Chief, Assignments Branch, Colonels Division, Officer Personnel Directorate, Office Personnel Operations from February 1966 to July 1967. During this period he attended the Management Program for Executives at the University of Pittsburgh. In September 1967 he became the Chief of Staff, Cam Ranh Bay Support Command, in Vietnam, and in December 1967 was appointed Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff of the command. During his year in Vietnam he participated in four campaigns including the TET offensive. | Upon his return from Vietnam, he assumed command of the Atlanta Army Depot in October 1968 and on 15 May 1970, he was nominated by the President for promotion to the grade of Brigadier General. | He assumed command of Natick Laboratories, Natick, Massachusetts on 15 June 1970. | Colonel Van Lydegraf’s awards and decorations include: Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with V Device and Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart Medal, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle East Campaign with Battle Stars, World War II Victory Medal, Army of Occupation Medal with Cluster, National Defense Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantry Badge, Vietnam Service Medal, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device.