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Captain John Ward "Jake" Reed, USN (Ret.)
Submarine Commander, WWII War Patrols
Awarded the Navy Cross and Silver Star
John W. Reed VIRGINIA BEACH - Retired Navy Capt. John Ward Reed was born in Wilkinsburg, Pa., Oct. 10 1914 and died peacefully at his home in Atlantic Shores on April 26, 2011. He is now on eternal patrol.
Jake Reed, upon completion of high school in 1932, enlisted in the United States Navy and thus commenced a 30-year career of service. His first duty assignment was as a seaman recruit aboard the Battleship, USS Pennsylvania. Shortly thereafter, he received a presidential appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy. After graduation from the Naval Academy in 1938, he reported to the Heavy Cruiser USS Northampton.
In 1940 he married Barbara Dyer in St. Clements Episcopal Church, Honolulu, his soulmate for the next 65 years. Also, in 1940, he entered the Submarine School in New London, Conn. He spent the entirety of World War II aboard submarines in the Pacific, serving on the USS S-45, executive officer of the USS Seadragon, commanding officer of the USS S-41 and commanding officer of the USS Sunfish. His decorations and medals include the Navy Cross, Silver Star, Navy Unit Commendation, World War II Victory Medal and various Theater medals. His Navy Cross was donated to the Submarine Force Museum in Groton, Conn.
Post war, he went on to earn his master's degree from George Washington University. Sea duty consisted of another submarine command on the USS Spikefish, he was then first to command a division of the radar picket submarines, commanding officer of the destroyer USS Bache, chief of Staff to Commander Carrier Division 14, commanding officer of the USS Pocono and commanding officer of Amphibious Squadron 8. Ashore he attended the Naval War College, taught at the U.S. Naval Academy, commanded the Advanced Undersea Weapons School in Key West, Fla., and the Amphibious School in Norfolk, and served in the P & 0 Division at NATO headquarters in Naples, Italy.
Other Comments:
NAVY CROSS, JOHN WARD REED Synopsis:
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to John Ward Reed, Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Navy (Reserve), for gallantry and intrepidity and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. SUNFISH (SS-281), on the ELEVENTH War Patrol of that submarine during the period 31 March 1945 to 28 April 1945, in enemy controlled waters of the Pacific War Area. Through his experience and sound judgment Lieutenant Commander Reed brought his ship safely back to port. His conduct throughout was an inspiration to his officers and men and in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
