Maurice L. Reed (far right) with his brothers Herbert (center) and Orville (left) On this Memorial Day in 2013, I am remembering four generations of military service in my family.
First - my grandfather, Maurice Leonard Reed (1891-1972). He enlisted in September 1917, after completing two years of classes at Michigan Agricultural College in East Lansing. Assigned to duty in Columbus, Ohio, he often said later in life that the only reason he wasn't sent overseas was because he knew typing and shorthand. After his marriage to Ruby Marie Chase, Maurice was assigned to Camp Zachary Taylor in Kentucky, whee he was stationed until the Armistice was signed in November 1918.
First - my grandfather, Maurice Leonard Reed (1891-1972). He enlisted in September 1917, after completing two years of classes at Michigan Agricultural College in East Lansing. Assigned to duty in Columbus, Ohio, he often said later in life that the only reason he wasn't sent overseas was because he knew typing and shorthand. After his marriage to Ruby Marie Chase, Maurice was assigned to Camp Zachary Taylor in Kentucky, whee he was stationed until the Armistice was signed in November 1918.
John Chase Reed, about 1954 My father, John Chase Reed (1930-1998) completed his degree in Electrical Engineering at Michigan State University, where he met my mother. After their marriage in 1951, he enlisted and became an officer in the Air Force. They were stationed at Sandia Air Force Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico until his discharge in 1957.
Christopher Chase Reed, 1975 My brother, Christopher Chase Reed (1957-2007) enlisted in the Navy after dropping out of high school in Florida. I remember attending his boot camp graduation in Orlando, that sweltering June day in 1975, and how glad my parents were to receive an eyewitness report from me (they had moved to Bellevue, WA). After boot camp and more training, he was assigned to Whidbey Island Naval Air Station, and would see several deployments on Navy cruisers before he was honorably discharged after seven years of service.
Jason and Aunt Mom, Sept. 2010 My nephew Jason (Chris's son) enlisted in the Marines in 2010, and celebrated his 20th birthday in boot camp. Our whole family was present for his graduation in September 2010. Since then, he's been on two deployments (one of them to Afghanistan), and is currently stationed at Camp Pendleton in California.
I am very proud of him.
I am very proud of all of them!
I am very proud of him.
I am very proud of all of them!
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