Ray Reed gets France’s highest honor
Ray Reed got quite a surprise, nearly 65 years after serving in WWII.
In January, he received a letter from the French Ambassador to the U.S., stating that he had been chosen for France’s highest honor – the Legion d’Honneur or French Legion of Honor award.
Reed was one of 28 former servicemen honored in a formal ceremony held in Naples in late March at the Edison College Campus. Several hundred friends and family members attended the ceremony.
“It was quite a crowd,” he said.
Earning the distinction has put him in some famous company. Napoleon Bonaparte was the first to give the honor in 1802, and Americans who have received it include the likes of Gen. George S. Patton and inventors Thomas Edison and Alexander Graham Bell.
“I was in France then, and appreciated what they did, but never expected this after 65 years,” he said.
The very formal letter was sent from Washington on Jan. 7, from Pierre Viemont, the Ambassador to France.
The letter stated Reed was named a “chevalier” of the Legion of Honor.
“The award testifies to the President of the French Republic’s high esteem for your merits and accomplishments,” it stated. “In particular, it is a sign of France’s true and unforgettable gratitude and appreciation for your personal, precious contribution to the United States’ decisive role in the liberation of our country during WWII.”
“The French Government made a statement, saying they decided to honor WWII Veterans,” said wife Ethel. “These are veterans who served in French Territory in 1944 and 1945.”
The French officials actually did give a kiss on each cheek, he said. Then each honoree got a few moments to speak. He decided to add some humor to his speech, as many were very serious. He told the story of how he enlisted.
Reed said he had to enlist twice; he was turned down the first time because his weight was short.
“The day after Pearl Harbor I went down to enlist. They turned me down because I only weighed 112 pounds. They told me to go home and eat a dozen bananas and come back when I weighed at least 115.”
So he did that, he said but didn’t put on enough weight until June of 1942. “I enlisted on my 19th birthday.”
He was technically a CBD1040, a Second Class Boatswain’s Mate and a Navy Seabee.
He said he remembers the liberation well.
“The celebration started June 6, which was D-Day in Normandy and it went up until 1945 when the war ended in Germany.”
He recalled some other memories.
“There were actually two invasions then, Normandy and Southern France that started on June 6, 1944.” Reed went in on the second invasion on Aug. 15, 1944, “On June 6, we were all loaded up in North Africa, but it was two-pronged,” a little-known fact, he said.
“What happened is that they didn’t have enough LST’s – landing ship tanks – that carry tanks and also soldiers. Nine times out of 10 they would hit a sandbar, and we still had 100 yards of water from there to the beach. It was our job, the Navy Seabees – to line causeways up so they could go over the causeways right onto the beach.”
He has fond memories of France.
“The people were wonderful and they treated us great. They loved to see us when we came in to liberate them.”
He also has some incredible war memorabilia, which he plans on donating to a museum.
Reed is still an active veteran. He is the local membership chair and secretary for the Navy Seabees Veterans of American Island X-8, Lee County.
“Seabees were like the construction crew of the Navy,” he said.
His wife Ethel helps him send out notices about the group.
“She’s my secretary,” he said.
“I was very proud of him when he got this award, it was very exciting,” she said. “And the French officers who awarded this to each of the individuals did it very cordially and very personally. I was very impressed.”
Reed said he is currently looking for Seabees to join the local group. They have luncheons monthly but there will be a break in July and August. The luncheons are held at American Legion Post 38 in Fort Myers.
For information and dates, call Reed at 731-1901.