World War II Honoree

John Gillette Reed

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Cohoes, New York

Honored By

Michael Lynett

ENLISTED TO FIGHT IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR AND LATER SERVED IN KOREA. THE MAJORITY OF HIS SERVICE TOOK PLACE ABOARD THE USS JEFFERS DD-621 FOR WHICH HE WAS ONE OF THE FOUNDING CREW AND A PLANK HOLDER. AS A RADARMAN ON THIS SHIP HE TOOK PART IN NEARLY EVERY THEATER OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR, FROM ASSISTING IN NORTH AFRICA AND THE ATLANTIC TO FIGHTING DURING THE FINAL DAYS OF THE PACIFIC WAR. WAS ASSIGNED TO THE JEFFERS AFTER ENEMY FIRE SANK HIS FIRST SHIP, THE USS SIMS DD-409 AND LEFT HIM WAITING FOR RESCUE WHILE HOLDING UP A FELLOW SHIPMATE. AWARDED THE EUROPEAN OCCUPATION SERVICE AWARD, THE WWII VICTORY AWARD, THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN AWARD, THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN AWARD, THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN AWARD, THE NAVY OCCUPATION SERVICE MEDIAL (EUROPEAN CLASP) AND THE WWII NAVAL GOOD CONDUCT AWARD.