Mack Reed Awarded Purple Heart

REED

Posted By: Marilyn Norris Holmes (email)
Date: 1/23/2010 at 20:20:43

Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register; Aug. 13, 1942; Front Page

MACK REED IS
AWARDED THE
PURPLE HEART

Kellogg Man, Veteran of
World War I, Is Highly
Honored.

KELLOGG, (Special) -- Mack Reed, veteran of World War I, has been awarded the Purple Heart, an honor conferred by the U.S. government for distinguished service rendered for our country in time of emergency.

A native of this community, Mack was one of the first boys from here to enlist in the first World War. He became a member of the 168th Infantry, better known as the "Rainbow Division" and went through the major campaigns with that outfit. He saw service in the Alsace Lorraine area, fought at Chateau Thierry, went through the Argonne Forest, was at St. Mihiel and served along the Rhine.

He came through unscathed as far as bullets are concerned. But his body was hammered up by the grim pressure of war, he suffered some gassing and internal injuries, so his health since his discharge has been poor. In fact life to him has been just one stay in a Veteran's hospital, after another. He has been hospitalized some 25 or 30 times and is at present "on furlough" from the Des Moines hospital, where he recently spent several weeks. The honor came through the efforts of some of his buddies at Des Moines hospital who found out about his service record and asked to have it investigated.

Mack is a member of the Ben Morgan Post of the American Legion and they are mighty proud to have one of their number so honored.