35th Infantry (Cacti) Regiment Association


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  CPL Carl Edward Deford    In memory of our fallen brother

"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; for he to-day that sheds his blood with me shall be my brother"



King Company
35th Infantry Regiment
Korean War

"Not For Fame or Reward
Not For Place or For Rank
But In Simple Obedience To
Duty as They Understood It"
National Defense Service Medal Korean Service Medal United Nations Korean Service Medal Republic of Korea War Service Medal


The 35th Infantry Regiment Association salutes our fallen brother, CPL Carl Edward Deford, US53015089, who died in the service of his country on September 21st, 1951 in North Korea. The cause of death was listed as MIA to KIA. At the time of his death Carl was 23 years of age. He was from Knoxville, Tennessee. Carl's Military Occupation Specialty was 4745-Light Weapons Infantryman.

The decorations earned by CPL Carl Edward Deford include: the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Korea Service Medal, and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.

Corporal Deford was a member of the 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy in North Korea on September 21, 1951. Corporal Deford was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.

He was the only child. I am his 2nd cousin. When his parents died I got all his belongings.He has not been thought of in over 50 years. I have his mother's scrap book from the time he was born till where he was killed. I have news paper clippings even his funeral that was gave, word for word.The letters he wrote and got from home.He saved several lives when he was killed. He leading a tank patrol when he stopped to tell his fellow troops to stay back because he believed that there was mines in the road. No more than a second went by, a mine blew up and killed him saving the rest from being killed,if he had not stopped them.All he had to leave is what I have of him. I WANT TO KEEP HIS MEMORY ALIVE. I was born 17 years after he was killed,but I feel I know him well from reading his letters and pictures. I hate that this great young man had to die for people in another country. If anyone served with him or knew him. Please e-mail me at tnguitar1968@yahoo.com I plan on telling my kids about cpl.Carl Edward Deford (from Phil Davis)

Burial: Lynhurst Cemetery, Knoxville,TN