World War II Honoree

Roy E. Reed

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Pawnee, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

SERVED WITH THE OKLAHOMA NATIONAL GUARD UNTIL HIS REGIMENT WAS INDUCTED INTO FEDERAL SERVICE AT OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA ON SEPTEMBER 16, 1940, BEFORE THE UNITED STATES ENTERED THE WAR. TRAINED AND SERVED IN THE AMERICAN THEATER AT FORT SILL AT LAWTON, OKLAHOMA IN 1940-41; CAMP BARKELEY AT ABILENE, TEXAS IN 1941-42; FORT DEVENS AT AYER, MASSACHUSETTS IN 1942; PINE CAMP AT WATERTOWN, NEW YORK IN 1942-43; AND CAMP PICKETT AT BLACKSTONE, VIRGINIA IN 1943. STAGED WITH HIS UNIT AT CAMP PATRICK HENRY AT ORIANA, VIRGINIA ON MAY 25, 1943 AWAITING OVERSEAS DEPLOYMENT. SAILED FROM THE HAMPTON ROADS PORT OF EMBARKATION ON JUNE 8, 1943, LANDED IN NORTH AFRICA ON JUNE 22, 1943 AND WENT INTO TRAINING AT ARZEW, ALGERIA. SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER WITH COMPANY B, 1ST BATTALION, 179TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 45TH INFANTRY 'THUNDERBIRD' DIVISION, INCLUDING IN NORTH AFRICA; SICILY; AND ITALY. PARTICIPATED IN THE SICILY, AND NAPLES-FOGGIA CAMPAIGNS. HIS REGIMENT ASSAULTED SCOGLITTI, SICILY ON JULY 9, 1943 AND FOUGHT IN THE BATTLE OF MOTTA HILL. ASSAULTED SALERNO, ITALY ON SEPTEMBER 9, 1943 AND ENGAGED IN HEAVY FIGHTING AT PONTE SELE AND THE TOBACCO FACTORY. HIS DIVISION WENT ON THE OFFENSIVE ON NOVEMBER 3, 1943; CROSSED THE VOLTURNO RIVER BELOW SESTO CAMPANO; AND BATTLED THROUGH THE HITLER LINE IN A 10-DAY ENGAGEMENT. TECHNICIAN FIFTH GRADE REED WAS KILLED IN ACTION ON NOVEMBER 24, 1943 DURING THE NAPLES-FOGGIA CAMPAIGN IN ITALY. POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, BRONZE STAR MEDAL, PURPLE HEART, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH BRONZE ARROWHEAD (AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT LANDINGS) AND 2 BRONZE SERVICE STARS (2 CAMPAIGNS), AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL.