Colonel Van S. Reed, USMC (Ret) Obituary

He was a great guy! Van's obituary, courtesy of the Greensboro New-Record, follows. I attended the memorial service and had the honor of delivering his eulogy.

VAN S. REED
03-13-2005

Col. Van S. Reed, USMC (Retired), passed away on Thursday, March 10, 2005 at Moses Cone Hospital.

A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. on Tuesday at Westminster Presbyterian Church.

Van Reed was born on Aug. 14, 1932 in Cairo, Ill. to the late Russell S. and Edith L. Reed. In 1954 he graduated from Middle Tennessee State College. That same year he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps and served for 27 years as a Marine aviator. During his military career he served in Vietnam and received numerous decorations for his heroic service including the Legion of Merit, the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, three Distinguished Flying Crosses and numerous air medals. After retiring from military service the family moved to the Greensboro area in 1981. Mr. Reed worked for many years at the High Point Bank and Trust before completely retiring in the early 90s. He was active in both his church and community. He enjoyed teaching Sunday School once a month with his friends at Muirs Chapel UMC and was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church. He was also a member of the Greater Greensboro Marine Corps League #260, a Master Mason of the Gate City Lodge #694, a 32nd Degree member of Greensboro Valley of Scottish Rite, a York Rite member, a Past Master of the Numa F. Reid Lodge in High Point, and a member and past ruler of the High Point Elks Lodge #1155.

Col. Reed is survived by his loving wife of 49 years, Suzanne P. Reed, daughter, Diane R. Cashion of Greensboro; son Van S. Reed Jr. and wife Susie also of Greensboro; and brother Robert L. Reed and wife Gail of New Braunfels, Texas.

He was a wonderful husband, father, brother and friend and will be tremendously missed by many.

Memorials can be made to American Heart Association or Moses Cone Health System, Palliative Care Services.

Van was a member of HMM-165 when he won his awards. After his Vietnam tour Van went on to command MARTD Memphis and H&MS-12. His final assignment just prior to retiring in 1981 was CO, MAG-29 at MCAS New River.

Van Reed

Van Reed served as a Major, in HMM-165 in 1969 at the same time I was its Tech Rep. I'm pretty sure he was the investigating officer for Terry Curtis's crash. I was assigned to him to help in any way I could. As it turned out, he didn't need me but I learned a lot from him which served me well in future accident investigations. Great guy.

I have 2 pictures of him. The first is enlarged from a group picture and is pushed about as far as it will go. The second is almost the full negative and can be enlarged. If anyone, especially family, would like copies, let me know.

Col Van Reed

Jdullighan, this is suzanne, Vans wife, sure would like copy of those pictures

Van's pictures

I'll honored to supply you with any copies that you wish. What size and how many. Tell me where to send them to.

1) is cropped from a much larger picture. In fact it is a picture of all the squadron officers taken on the Tripoli in October, 1968. It will probably enlarge to 5x7 but no more. I've attach the entire picture.

2) will enlarge to however big you want to go. I can make pictures up to 13x19, poster size.

Let me know how many and what size for each picture, including the picture attached to this post.

My email address is jdullighan@gmail.com

My condolances to you and your family. Van was a great guy.

John Dullighan

Boeing Tech Rep
HMM-165, MMAF 1969