Born on December 25, 1900 on a farm near Richmond, Virginia, he was a career soldier and undergraduate at the University of Virginia before going to West Point, where he graduated in 1922. His first assignment was with the 8th Calvary at Fort Bliss, Texas. He became one of the elite horsemen and was selected for the army’s Advanced Equitation Course. Major Hank Reed became operations officer of the 10th Calvary, an all-black regiment known as the Buffalo Soldiers at Fort Riley, Kansas. In December of 1942, he was sent to Fort Jackson in South Carolina and assigned to the 633rd Armored Battalion to lead the newly mechanized 2nd Calvary where he was promoted to Colonel. They shipped out on the Mauretania on 20 Mar 1944. He received the Distinguished Service Cross and French Legion of Honor and the Croix de Guerre. for actions performed on 15 September 1944 in the vicinity of Luneville/Meurthe-et-Moselle, Lorraine region, France. In April of 45, Colonel Reed also commanded a light-tank unit that helped rescue some Lipizzaner horses of the Spanish Riding School of Vienna that had been taken by the Nazi’s to Hostau and were in danger of being captured by the advancing Russian army. Reeds old polo buddy, General Patton, had approved the rescue. Colonel Reed died 8 April 1980, in Richmond following a stroke at age 79 years old. He and spouse Janice (nee Cannon) had no children. DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS CITATION: Distinguished Service Cross to Colonel (Cavalry) Charles Hancock Reed, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Commanding Officer, 2d Cavalry Group, in action against enemy forces in the European Theater of Operations on 15 September 1944. Colonel Reed's intrepid actions, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty at the cost of his life, exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.