Orley Deane Comfort ("Dean") was a third generaton Kansan. His grandparents, Robert and Anna Comfort, were homesteaders in Ottawa County in 1874. His Comfort ancestors were English Quakers that initially settled in Bucks County, PA in the 1690's. (Because of the early arrival to the colonies, Dean had ancestors' who served in the Revolutionary War, Civil War and WWI.) The Comfort family migrated west over the next two centuries to Ohio, Iowa and to Ottawa County, Kansas where Dean was born and raised. All his ancestors were farmers. They remained in the Quaker (Friends) faith until about 1900 when his grandparents died in Kansas. There were no other practicing Quakers in the area. (Dean had an extensive genealogy of the family dating from the 1690's to 1970 that he passed on to his children.) Dean attended grades 1-8 at Wells and high school in Minneapolis, Kansas. He grew up in a period of that included the dust bowl, depression and WWII as he entered adulthood. In spite of these challenges he was surrounded by family and a supporting community. After the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Dean was called to service. Before departing for training he married Inez Lavilla Beals on January 10, 1942. He left for naval service soon after. In the 3 years and 8 months Dean was in the war, he was able to see his bride one time, in November 1942, when his ship (USS Wichita) returned to New York for repairs after being damaged by a Vichy French shore battery off Casa Blanca. (He saved a piece of twisted medal from the engagement.) After Dean was released from active duty in September 1945, he returned to Kansas and also returned to farming for a short period. Later he started a career with Leidig and Haven Lumber Companies in Clay Center, Kansas. He had several transfers over years to Salina, Lincoln, Ks, Windsor, Mo, Caney, Ks, Emporia, Ks and Bartlesville, Ok, where he retired. Dean and Inez raised three children, Kent born 1946, Doyle born 1948 and Janet 1954. Inez was a teacher, then homemaker, giving piano lessons in the home for many years. Dean was a modest and thoughtful man. In business he was known to be honest and reliable, a characteristic of his Quaker heritage. He never sought attention or recognition for himself but looked up to as leader in the business and faith community. Like most WWII veterans he didn't expound on his duty and awards. The following information in the "Major Battles" section were taken from the his ships history and the battles stars he received. This was gathered, and learned, after he died in 1996.