While we weren’t able to interview Dean directly, we were able to gain a lot of insight on his life through his son, Bill Arbogast.
Through Bill’s perspective our group was able to gain a better understanding for who his father was, while also learning Dean’s true purpose
Growing up, Dean didn’t tell Bill much about his experience in the army while he was young. Much of what he learned about the wars actually came from encyclopedias and school.
As time progressed in Bill’s life, his father would share more stories about his time in the army.
He also slowly started to understand the weight the war had on his father.
These stories that Bill heard from his father, along with his own research, helped our group find a clear end as to what Dean’s purpose truly was
Early Life
Dean Abrogast‘s life starts a farm outside of Saybrook Illinois in 1922 with his parents, Baker and Nancy Arbogast and four older brothers and sisters. His father passed away early in his life, and while his mother continued to work on the farm, the start of the Great Depress forced the family to move into Normal to look for jobs.
Great Depression
Once in Bloomington, the entire family picked up jobs to help stay afloat during the trying times. Dean himself got several jobs such as delivering groceries, being a mail courier, and an usher at the Normal Theater. During this time, Dean‘s older brothers left the family and married. This resulted in Dean’s early life being heavily influenced by his mother and older sisters. This influence caused Dean’s life to be centered around school, religion, music, and part-time work. One constant through this whole time, was his dream to fly.
High School to College
Dean Arbogast graduated from University High School in 1940 with his highschool sweetheart Betty Lou Hammerlund. He began collage as ISNU (now currently called ISU) in 1940s as a music major while Betty Lou attended University of Illinois. After the war was announced, his curiosity for flight led him to join the Civilian Pilot training program in his sophomore year.
Civillian Pilot Training Program
Civilian Pilot Training program in his sophomore year of college. This was a class/basic flight training course offered though ISNU with the Bloomington Airport. It provided students with the ability to learn the basics of air flight and join the Army Air Corp during World War II. While reflecting on his experiences, Dean mentions how his mother was not a fan of the ambition at all at the time.
World War II
During World War II, Dean Arbogast finally had his chance to fly. He flew in the 345th Fighter Squadron called the “Devil Hawks” and was often seen in Northern Italy. His targets were often bridges, railroads, and other encampments to try and disrupt the German supply routes. Also ironically, Bill informed us, that his future father in law was stationed at the same base.
A Brief Intermission to the War
During a ten day leave, Dean married his high school sweetheart, Betty Lou Hammerlund, who was working up in Chicago and training to be a nurse for the War efforts.
After the War
Once the war was over and Dean returned home, he and his wife moved to the Normal area (in what is know the Redbird apartments) and continued their schooling at ISNU (continuing the tradition of the Arbogast’s attending the now remained ISU) . Dean went back to continue his college degree in music as well as taking literary classes. He went on to teach for several years in a variety of schools in Illinois.
Teaching Career
Dean taught as a music teacher in the beginning of his career, followed by a few short years as a shop teacher, and finally finishing his teaching career as an English teacher. Though all of the different classes and subjects, there was one thing that remained the same. His dedication to helping his students, soothing that had shifted from his dedication to the sky, helped influence and support the hundreds of students he taught through his career. One thing that was common though all of this time was that none of his students knew he fought in World War II. Bill himself didn’t even know until he thought to bring it up to his father after reading an encyclopedia.
Prairie Aviation Museum
Dean began volunteering at the Prairie Aviation Museum, and even did an interview with one of the original volunteers at the Museum. In this interview, he talked about his time during war, as well as brief intermissions about his life after and outside of World War II. It was through this interview and discussing with Bill that we are able to get so much information about his father‘s life and his time during the war. After Dean’s passing Bill and his siblings learned about his interview with the Prairie Aviation Museum and wanted to contribute and connect with his father’s military past through this way. Bill has been with the Prairie Aviation Museum for the past several years and he continues to volunteer to help teach the newer generation about the past.