Jesse David Reed
Jesse David Reed was born 16-OCT 1983. His parents were David Reed and Delores Reed. Jesse graduated from Whitehall High School in 2002. After high school, Jesse drifted between construction jobs. It’s said that he finally found his direction when he met future wife, Heather. Jesse enlisted in the Army on 29-MAY 2008. They had one son: Dylan and one stepdaughter Brianna. Heather was expecting a second child in August 2010.
SPC. Jesse David Reed was assigned to the 27th Engineer Battalion (Combat Airborne), 20th Engineer Brigade (Combat) based in Fort Bragg, North Carolina (Editor’s note: Now Fort Liberty). Their role in Afghanistan was searching for roadside bombs.
Jesse and his best friend and fellow 2002 Whitehall High School graduate, Adam Keyes, were riding in a truck when insurgents attacked his military vehicle with an improvised explosive device near Forward Operating Base Lagman, Afghanistan. Jesse and his friend Adam were seriously injured. Jesse’s wound was mortal. Jesse died of his wounds 14-JUL 2010 in Southern Afghanistan.
One month earlier, Jesse sent his father a picture of a half dozen soldiers sitting in a hole where a roadside bomb had detonated blasting out the earth. Jesse told his father, “But don’t worry, nobody as killed.” It was said that Jesse and Adam “shared a passion for Tom Petty concerts and endured many years of bad New York Jets football.” It was said Jesse was everybody’s best friend.
Also killed were:
- Chase Stanley
- Matthew J. Johnson
- Zachary M. Fisher.
Jesse David Reed is buried at Cedar Hill Memorial Park in Allentown, Pennsylvania. He likely was awarded the following medals and commendations:\
- Purple Heart
- Afghanistan Campaign Medal w/Campaign Star
- Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
- Good Conduct Medal
- National Defense Medal
- Army Service Ribbon
- Overseas Ribbon
- NATO Medal
- Combat Action Badge