Charles Reed

June 12, 1938 — May 6, 2026

Retired U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Charles Reed, 87, of James Creek, formerly of Dudley, died Wednesday, May 6, 2026, at the James E. Van Zandt VA Medical Center in Altoona.

Born June 12, 1938, in Dudley, he was the son of the late Warren D. "Horney" Reed and Madeline A. (Speck) Reed. He was united in marriage to the former RuthAnn Thompson March 9, 1974, in Winchester, Virginia. Mrs. Reed preceded him in death Sept. 6, 2023.

Mr. Reed is survived by two children, Wendy S. McCulloch and Scott M. Reed; four grandchildren, Madison Baker, McKenzie Burket, Molly Reed and Maggie Reed; and one great-grandson, Callen Baker.

He was preceded in death by two brothers, Devoe D. Reed and wife Doris and Ronald Reed; a nephew, David Reed and wife Valeria; and two nieces, Stephanie Reed and Jodie Strunk.

Mr. Reed graduated from Saxton-Liberty High School with the class of 1957. He played football and baseball, lettering four years in each, and basketball, in which he lettered three years.

After high school, Mr. Reed worked in Connecticut and worked in construction as a grade foreman. He enlisted in the Pennsylvania National Guard in June 1956 and was discharged from the National Guard enlisted in the regular United States Army in February 1959. He went to basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, then to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, for combat engineer and engineer foreman school. He then went to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, for airborne jump school. Then he was stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, with the 101st Airborne Division 326 combat engineer company for about a year and was shipped to Hanau, Germany, with the 23rd combat engineer battalion. He was extended in the Army for six months during the Berlin Crisis and was then discharged in April 1962.

He reenlisted during the Cuban Missile Crisis in July 1963 and volunteered to go to Florida on a missile base as a radar operator and computer operator for 14 months. He was shipped to Bondholder, Germany. In January 1967, he was shipped to Cuchi, Vietnam, with the 25th Infantry Division. Chuck was with the 25th Infantry Division until August 1967. He reenlisted to be a door gunner with the 162nd ASSAULT Helicopter Co. in Phucvinh, Vietnam, as a door gunner and platoon sergeant.

On a U H-1 Huey gunship, he was with the 162nd ASSAULT Helicopter Co. until May 1969. Chuck shipped to Hunter Army Airfield, Savannah, Georgia, and then to Fort Eustis, Virginia, as a door gunner instructor. For about six months, he was shipped back in December 1969 to Vietnam to the 71st ASSAULT Helicopter Co., Chulai, Vietnam, as an ASR door gunner and platoon sergeant. He was with the 71st ASSAULT Helicopter Co. until June 1970 and was sent to F Troop 8th Cav. as a platoon sergeant in the infantry platoon. Chuck ended up in Quang Tri, he was shipped to Marvel Mountain near Danang, Vietnam, until he was shipped back to the states in July 1971 to Fort Meade, Maryland. He didn't have a job at Fort Meade, so he went to supply school and was an S-4 sergeant. In February 1975, he was shipped to Hawaii as an S-4 sergeant. Then, in February 1977, he was shipped to Key West, Florida. In July 1979, he was shipped to Fort Bliss, Texas, and retired from the Army in April 1981.

He served in 10 major campaigns (10 battle stars), including: Vietnam Counteroffense Phase II through Phase VII, TET 1968 and 1969 Counteroffensive, UN winter-spring 1970 and Sanctuary Counteroffensive.

He received a Bronze Star Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with 25 Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Missile Badge Aircraft Wing Cluster, Army Good Conduct Medal (6) Award, National Guard Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Expedition Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with four Bronze Star Clusters, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, CA Honor Medal, Vietnam Campaign with 60 Devices, Combat Service Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, Presidential Unit Citation, Meritorious Unit Citation (1st) Oak Leaf Cluster, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with 60 b Devices, Vietnam 50th Anniversary Medal, Cold War Victory Medal, Foreign Expedition Medal, Overseas Service Medal with eight bars, Honorable Service Medal and Honorable Discharge Medal.

Mr. Reed was a life member of the Non-Commissioned Officers Association, Captain Phillips VFW Post 4129 of Saxton, Watson & Black American Legion Post 126 of Broad Top City, Altoona PA DAV and the United Methodist Church of Dudley.

After Mr. Reed retired from the United States Army, he went to Letterkenny Army Depot and worked for 16 years, having retired in 1998.

Visitation will be held at the Curtis A. Heath Funeral Home Inc. on Monday, May11, 2026 from 6-8 PM and again on Tuesday, May 12, 2026 from 10-11 AM when a funeral service will be held at 11 AM with Pastor Patty Wise officiating. Burial will take place in the Dudley Methodist Cemetery with full military honors by the Broad Top Area Honor Guard.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Curtis A. Heath Funeral Home Inc. 5010 Railroad Ave. Broad Top City, PA. 16621. Online condolences can be made at www.caheathfh.com

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