 |
Remember...Rexal Dane Reed
|
Navy Seaman Second Class Rexal Dane Reed was born in Doddridge County, West Virginia, on November 1, 1927. He was the son of Everett Guy and Laura Bunting Reed, who resided at Route 2, West Union. Rexal had five brothers:Dale, Wayne, Jack, Richard, and Bradford:and four sisters:Marie, Phyllis, Naomi, and Glenda Lou.
In civilian life, Rexal worked on the family farm with his father. Upon joining the Navy on February 22, 1945, he spent three weeks at Great Lakes Naval Station and was then sent to Camp Peary, Virginia. In October, he was sent overseas.
| According to an article in the West Union Herald on February 21, 1946, Rexal's parents received a telegram from Vice Admiral Lewis Danfield, Chief of Naval Reserves, stating that S2c Reed died on January 24, 1946, when he slipped and fell from the deck of his ship. In a letter to his parents, Rexal had indicated that his ship was leaving for Manila and then heading to China. As was the custom with such burials, he was interred temporarily at Tocloban, Layte, with his remains to be moved to a final resting place in the Manila American Cemetery (Plot L, Row 16, Grave 104) in the Philippines. |  Courtesy American Battle Monuments Commission |
Information contributed by Rexal's niece Edwina Reed Bailey. Article by Patricia Richards McClure.
West Virginia Archives and History welcomes any additional information that can be provided about these veterans, including photographs, family names, letters and other relevant personal history.
