Reeder was a United States Army officer and author. Colonel Reeder's military decorations include the Distinguished Service Cross, the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman Badge, and two decorations awarded by France: the Croix de Guerre avec Palm and the Légion d'honneur.
Reeder was born in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas on March 4, 1902. His father, Russell Potter Reeder Sr., was an Army officer and Reeder and his family moved to different military bases around the country. At the age of eleven, he saved the life of a drowning younger child in Casco Bay, Maine. For this achievement, he was awarded the Treasury Department Silver Lifesaving Medal. Reeder entered West Point in 1920 and played football and baseball as a cadet. He graduated in 1926.
During the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Reeder was stationed in California. By the end of December 1941, he had joined the Army operations division and was transferred to a military base in Washington. Reeder was sent to England in April 1944, to take command of the 12th Infantry Regiment, Fourth Infantry Division. Reeder's regiment of 3,000 soldiers fought on Utah beach during D-Day. On June 11, 1944, during the Battle of Normandy, Reeder got shrapnel in his ankle that almost severed his left leg. He was taken back to England, and from there was taken to the Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington and his leg was amputated.
After retiring from military service in 1946, Reeder became an athletic director at West Point. He retired in 1967 and pursued a career in nonfiction writing. Of his nonfiction works, Medal of Honor Heroes and The West Point Story were written for the Landmark series of historical literature for children. In 1997, Reeder was awarded the Distinguished Graduate Award by the Association of Graduates of the United States Military Academy.
(https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Russell_Reeder)
__________________________________________________________________
DSC Citation
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Colonel (Infantry) Russell Potter Reeder, Jr. (ASN: 0-16494), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with the 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, on the morning of 7 June 1944, in France. On that date Colonel Reeder's unit attacked enemy fortified positions approximately 500 meters southwest of ******** and captured these positions, advancing to ******** where the attack was temporarily held up by enemy forces in buildings and hedgerows in that vicinity. Colonel Reeder throughout the attack circulated amongst his men in the front lines encouraging and urging them forward, exposing himself continually to enemy small arms and shell fire. His utter disregard for his own personal safety and his exemplary bravery were largely responsible for the rapid advance of his troops. Near ****** when Colonel Reeder noticed that a group of his men were hesitant about crossing an open field on the enemy flank because of small arms fire, he walked boldly into the open field with complete disregard for his personal safety. The men immediately got up, crossed the field following Colonel Reeder and established themselves on the flank of the enemy. This was an outstanding instance of leadership under fire and was to a great extent responsible for the swift ejection of the enemy from ******. Colonel Reeder's extraordinary coolness and personal bravery under fire when personally inciting his men to further effort were an inspiration to all who served with him and under him. His gallant leadership and zealous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 4th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.
Contributor: BarryC (47806468)
Reeder was born in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas on March 4, 1902. His father, Russell Potter Reeder Sr., was an Army officer and Reeder and his family moved to different military bases around the country. At the age of eleven, he saved the life of a drowning younger child in Casco Bay, Maine. For this achievement, he was awarded the Treasury Department Silver Lifesaving Medal. Reeder entered West Point in 1920 and played football and baseball as a cadet. He graduated in 1926.
During the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Reeder was stationed in California. By the end of December 1941, he had joined the Army operations division and was transferred to a military base in Washington. Reeder was sent to England in April 1944, to take command of the 12th Infantry Regiment, Fourth Infantry Division. Reeder's regiment of 3,000 soldiers fought on Utah beach during D-Day. On June 11, 1944, during the Battle of Normandy, Reeder got shrapnel in his ankle that almost severed his left leg. He was taken back to England, and from there was taken to the Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington and his leg was amputated.
After retiring from military service in 1946, Reeder became an athletic director at West Point. He retired in 1967 and pursued a career in nonfiction writing. Of his nonfiction works, Medal of Honor Heroes and The West Point Story were written for the Landmark series of historical literature for children. In 1997, Reeder was awarded the Distinguished Graduate Award by the Association of Graduates of the United States Military Academy.
(https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Russell_Reeder)
__________________________________________________________________
DSC Citation
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Colonel (Infantry) Russell Potter Reeder, Jr. (ASN: 0-16494), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with the 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, on the morning of 7 June 1944, in France. On that date Colonel Reeder's unit attacked enemy fortified positions approximately 500 meters southwest of ******** and captured these positions, advancing to ******** where the attack was temporarily held up by enemy forces in buildings and hedgerows in that vicinity. Colonel Reeder throughout the attack circulated amongst his men in the front lines encouraging and urging them forward, exposing himself continually to enemy small arms and shell fire. His utter disregard for his own personal safety and his exemplary bravery were largely responsible for the rapid advance of his troops. Near ****** when Colonel Reeder noticed that a group of his men were hesitant about crossing an open field on the enemy flank because of small arms fire, he walked boldly into the open field with complete disregard for his personal safety. The men immediately got up, crossed the field following Colonel Reeder and established themselves on the flank of the enemy. This was an outstanding instance of leadership under fire and was to a great extent responsible for the swift ejection of the enemy from ******. Colonel Reeder's extraordinary coolness and personal bravery under fire when personally inciting his men to further effort were an inspiration to all who served with him and under him. His gallant leadership and zealous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 4th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.
Contributor: BarryC (47806468)
Reeder was a United States Army officer and author. Colonel Reeder's military decorations include the Distinguished Service Cross, the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman Badge, and two decorations awarded by France: the Croix de Guerre avec Palm and the Légion d'honneur.
Reeder was born in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas on March 4, 1902. His father, Russell Potter Reeder Sr., was an Army officer and Reeder and his family moved to different military bases around the country. At the age of eleven, he saved the life of a drowning younger child in Casco Bay, Maine. For this achievement, he was awarded the Treasury Department Silver Lifesaving Medal. Reeder entered West Point in 1920 and played football and baseball as a cadet. He graduated in 1926.
During the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Reeder was stationed in California. By the end of December 1941, he had joined the Army operations division and was transferred to a military base in Washington. Reeder was sent to England in April 1944, to take command of the 12th Infantry Regiment, Fourth Infantry Division. Reeder's regiment of 3,000 soldiers fought on Utah beach during D-Day. On June 11, 1944, during the Battle of Normandy, Reeder got shrapnel in his ankle that almost severed his left leg. He was taken back to England, and from there was taken to the Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington and his leg was amputated.
After retiring from military service in 1946, Reeder became an athletic director at West Point. He retired in 1967 and pursued a career in nonfiction writing. Of his nonfiction works, Medal of Honor Heroes and The West Point Story were written for the Landmark series of historical literature for children. In 1997, Reeder was awarded the Distinguished Graduate Award by the Association of Graduates of the United States Military Academy.
(https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Russell_Reeder)
__________________________________________________________________
DSC Citation
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Colonel (Infantry) Russell Potter Reeder, Jr. (ASN: 0-16494), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with the 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, on the morning of 7 June 1944, in France. On that date Colonel Reeder's unit attacked enemy fortified positions approximately 500 meters southwest of ******** and captured these positions, advancing to ******** where the attack was temporarily held up by enemy forces in buildings and hedgerows in that vicinity. Colonel Reeder throughout the attack circulated amongst his men in the front lines encouraging and urging them forward, exposing himself continually to enemy small arms and shell fire. His utter disregard for his own personal safety and his exemplary bravery were largely responsible for the rapid advance of his troops. Near ****** when Colonel Reeder noticed that a group of his men were hesitant about crossing an open field on the enemy flank because of small arms fire, he walked boldly into the open field with complete disregard for his personal safety. The men immediately got up, crossed the field following Colonel Reeder and established themselves on the flank of the enemy. This was an outstanding instance of leadership under fire and was to a great extent responsible for the swift ejection of the enemy from ******. Colonel Reeder's extraordinary coolness and personal bravery under fire when personally inciting his men to further effort were an inspiration to all who served with him and under him. His gallant leadership and zealous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 4th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.
Contributor: BarryC (47806468)
Reeder was born in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas on March 4, 1902. His father, Russell Potter Reeder Sr., was an Army officer and Reeder and his family moved to different military bases around the country. At the age of eleven, he saved the life of a drowning younger child in Casco Bay, Maine. For this achievement, he was awarded the Treasury Department Silver Lifesaving Medal. Reeder entered West Point in 1920 and played football and baseball as a cadet. He graduated in 1926.
During the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Reeder was stationed in California. By the end of December 1941, he had joined the Army operations division and was transferred to a military base in Washington. Reeder was sent to England in April 1944, to take command of the 12th Infantry Regiment, Fourth Infantry Division. Reeder's regiment of 3,000 soldiers fought on Utah beach during D-Day. On June 11, 1944, during the Battle of Normandy, Reeder got shrapnel in his ankle that almost severed his left leg. He was taken back to England, and from there was taken to the Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington and his leg was amputated.
After retiring from military service in 1946, Reeder became an athletic director at West Point. He retired in 1967 and pursued a career in nonfiction writing. Of his nonfiction works, Medal of Honor Heroes and The West Point Story were written for the Landmark series of historical literature for children. In 1997, Reeder was awarded the Distinguished Graduate Award by the Association of Graduates of the United States Military Academy.
(https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Russell_Reeder)
__________________________________________________________________
DSC Citation
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Colonel (Infantry) Russell Potter Reeder, Jr. (ASN: 0-16494), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with the 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, on the morning of 7 June 1944, in France. On that date Colonel Reeder's unit attacked enemy fortified positions approximately 500 meters southwest of ******** and captured these positions, advancing to ******** where the attack was temporarily held up by enemy forces in buildings and hedgerows in that vicinity. Colonel Reeder throughout the attack circulated amongst his men in the front lines encouraging and urging them forward, exposing himself continually to enemy small arms and shell fire. His utter disregard for his own personal safety and his exemplary bravery were largely responsible for the rapid advance of his troops. Near ****** when Colonel Reeder noticed that a group of his men were hesitant about crossing an open field on the enemy flank because of small arms fire, he walked boldly into the open field with complete disregard for his personal safety. The men immediately got up, crossed the field following Colonel Reeder and established themselves on the flank of the enemy. This was an outstanding instance of leadership under fire and was to a great extent responsible for the swift ejection of the enemy from ******. Colonel Reeder's extraordinary coolness and personal bravery under fire when personally inciting his men to further effort were an inspiration to all who served with him and under him. His gallant leadership and zealous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 4th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.
Contributor: BarryC (47806468)
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
