Retired Marine Corps Colonel Henry L. Reed of Fort Washington, Md. and Mathews, Va., died on Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2015.
Born June 27, 1943 in the Burton community of Beaufort County, S.C., to the late Leola and Henry Reed, Henry spent his childhood with his loving parents, grandparents, and siblings. He graduated in 1961 from Robert Smalls High School and attended Hampton Institute (now Hampton University) where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in World History and Political Science in 1965. Later, he earned a Master’s Degree in Education from Prairie View A&M University. Upon graduating from Hampton Institute, he attended Officer Candidate School and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps where he had a successful career as an infantry officer including two combat tours in Vietnam and one in Desert Storm, retiring in 1996. At the time of his commissioning, he was among the first 10 Black Marine Corps officers. His decorated career was chronicled in the 2013 book Pathbreakers: U.S. Marine African American Officers in Their Own Words.
His military assignments included Platoon Commander, 3rd Anti-Tank Battalion; Company Executive Officer, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines; Commanding Officer, B Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Marines; Tactics Instructor, The Basic School at Quantico; NROTC Instructor at Prairie View A&M; 5th Special Forces Group, Vietnam; Marine Advisory Group, Vietnam; Special Assistant to the Commandant for Minority Affairs; Executive Officer, Marine Barracks, Yokosuka, Japan; Commanding Officer, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines (America’s Battalion), Kaneohe Marine Corps Air Station, Hawaii; Commanding Officer, Marine Corps Security Forces Battalion Pacific, Mare Island Naval Shipyard, California; Marine Corps JROTC Instructor; and numerous other senior staff assignments.
In addition to The Basic School, during his career Col. Reed attended the Amphibious Warfare School, the Army Command and General Staff College, the Army War College, Special and Jungle Warfare Schools, Demolition School, the Army Infantry and Airborne Schools, and the Long Range (RECONDO) School.
Col. Reed received many awards and recognitions including the National Defense Service Medal with Star; Vietnam Campaign Medal; Defense Superior Service Medal; Bronze Star Medal with Combat V; Navy Commendation Medal with Combat V and Gold Star in lieu of second award; Vietnam Service Medal with four Stars; two Combat Action Ribbons; Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Star and Palm; 1st Class AF Medal Honor; Meritorious Unit Commendation; Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with Star; Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation (Civil Actions Medal First Class Color with Palm); Overseas Service Ribbon; and numerous other citations.
Col. Reed never met a stranger or a task he could not tackle. His work ethic as well as his fun and endearing spirit and personality will be remembered by all whose lives he touched. In his spare time, Col. Reed enjoyed spending time with his family especially his beloved granddaughter affectionately called “Miss Madelynn.” She was the apple of his eye. In addition to spending time with his family and friends, Col. Reed was a news enthusiast and enjoyed playing golf, baseball, racquetball and football, and listening to the blues and gospel music.
Predeceased by his loving parents and one brother, Samuel, Col. Reed is survived by his wife of 49 years, the former Brenda Tonkins of Mathews, and their daughter LaVonda Reed and granddaughter Madelynn Huff, both of Syracuse, N.Y.; brothers, Thurmond (Mary), John, and Felanda Reed; sisters, Gwendolyn Williams, Thelma Asmond (Ernest), and Evelyn Coney; several nieces and nephews, and many other relatives and friends.
Funeral services will be held at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 30 at the United States Marine Memorial Chapel at Marine Corps Base Quantico, and burial with military honors will follow at Quantico National Cemetery, 18424 Joplin Road, Triangle, Va.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by Latney’s Funeral Home, 3831 Georgia Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C.