World War II Honoree

Cecil J. Reed

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Pawnee, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ENLISTED IN MILITARY SERVICE IN 1938, BEFORE THE UNITED STATES ENTERED THE WAR. REENLISTED IN 1942 AND TRAINED IN THE AMERICAN THEATER AT CAMP SHELBY AT HATTIESBURG, MISSISSIPPI; THE LOUISIANA MANEUVER AREA; THE DESERT TRAINING CENTER AT CAMP YOUNG AT INDIO, CALIFORNIA; AND FORT DIX AT WRIGHTSTOWN, NEW JERSEY. STAGED WITH HIS REGIMENT AT CAMP PATRICK HENRY AT ORIANA, VIRGINIA ON DECEMBER 15, 1943 AWAITING OVERSEAS DEPLOYMENT. SAILED FROM THE HAMPTON ROADS PORT OF EMBARKATION ON DECEMBER 24, 1943 AND ARRIVED AT CASABLANCA, MOROCCO IN NORTH AFRICA ON JANUARY 2, 1944. SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER WITH COMPANY D, 1ST BATTALION, 339TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 85TH INFANTRY 'CUSTER' DIVISION DURING THE WAR. PARTICIPATED IN THE ROME-ARNO, NORTH APENNINES, AND PO VALLEY CAMPAIGNS. HIS REGIMENT LANDED AT NAPLES, ITALY ON MARCH 27, 1944. WOUNDED IN ACTION DURING COMBAT OPERATIONS IN ITALY IN 1944. THEN SERVED WITH OCCUPATION FORCES AFTER THE END OF HOSTILITIES. AWARDED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, BRONZE STAR MEDAL, PURPLE HEART FOR WOUNDS RECEIVED IN ACTION, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 3 BRONZE SERVICE STARS (3 CAMPAIGNS), WWII VICTORY MEDAL, AND ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL. ALSO AWARDED THE FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE WITH BRONZE PALM FOR ACTIONS BY HIS REGIMENT IN CENTRAL ITALY. HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN 1945 WITH THE RANK OF SERGEANT AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.