Reeder, Red, 1902-

Colonel Russell P. Reeder, Jr., graduated from the United States (U.S.) Military Academy in 1926 and was commissioned in the Infantry of the U.S. Army. After the U.S. entered World War II (WWII), he was briefly given command of the 32nd Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, at Fort Ord, California. In February 1942, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. Reeder was then assigned to Operations Division, War Department General Staff in July 1942. In the Fall of 1942, he was sent to Australia and New Guinea by General Marshall to report "pertinent notes on jungle warfare" for troops in training for combat. While in New Guinea, Reeder received the Silver Star for gallantry in action. He later received the Bronze Star for his work with the War Department. In March 1944, he was assigned to Great Britain under General Omar Bradley, and received command of the 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division on 1 April 1944. He participated in the invasion of Normandy, landing at Utah Beach. Reeder was wounded by an 88mm shell burst on 11 June 1944, but his leadership and courage earned him the Distinguished Service Cross. After losing his left leg, he retired from the Army in 1945. However, he was immediately recalled to active duty as a teacher at the U.S. Military Academy (U.S.M.A.). In 1946, Reeder developed a course in leadership that became the foundation of future U.S.M.A. courses. He joined the Army Athletic Association as Assistant Director of Athletics at the U.S.M.A. in 1948, a position he held until his retirement in 1967.

Army officer; full name: Russell Potter Reeder.