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<em>Donald Emerson Reid</em> was a rare, per­haps unique, individual. Few, if any, have successively and successfully weathered Plebe Year at BOTH Annapolis and West Point.</p>
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He set his heart on attending West Point after reading about it as a boy. Graduating from high school still too young for West Point, he entered Massachusetts State College and concurrently joined the Army Reserve. To further improve his chances for West Point, he then enlisted in the Regular Army and completed parachute training with the 82nd Airborne Division.</p>
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In 1948, however, Don was offered an ap­pointment to Annapolis, not West Point, but he reluctantly accepted. He later learned that another man from his district had simultane­ously asked for Annapolis and was offered West Point.</p>
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While at the Naval Academy, he again pleaded with his Congressman for an ap­pointment to West Point, and at the end of his second year Don got his wish.</p>
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He resigned from Annapolis that summer and eagerly reported for Beast Barracks with the West Point Class of 1954. A bit small for Corps Squad football, he served proudly as a cadet manager of the Army Team.</p>
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Following his Plebe year, the mighty Army team was decimated by the 1951 cheating scandal, but Don’s faith in the team never wa­vered. He gloried in its steady recovery during the next few years.</p>
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Turned back medically at the begin­ning of First Class year, he graduated 7 Jun 1955 as a second lieutenant of Infantry. At 26 years and ten months, he was the old­est member of his graduating class and the Class of 1955 “patriarch.”</p>
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Born 4 Aug 1928, at Peabody, MA, he was the son of Ella Emerson Reid and Ralph James Reid. He graduated from Peabody High School in 1945, at age 16. His postgrad­uate education included master’s degrees from both the University of New Hampshire and Duke University, and he completed the Army Command and General Staff Course plus the French Command and Staff College.</p>
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Assignments included three tours in Germany, one in France and two in Viet Nam. Initially assigned to the 11th Airborne Division, he later joined the 101st Airborne and 3rd Infantry Divisions, the Berlin Brigade and Special Forces units. He served two separate tours as an advisor to the Vietnamese Army.</p>
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Some of his awards are a Bronze Star for valor; three other Bronze Stars, five Air Med­als, a Joint Service Commendation Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, plus the Combat Infantryman and Master Parachutist Badges.</p>
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He also earned the Viet­namese Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star and two other Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry awards. He retired in 1983 at Ft. Bragg, NC.</p>
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Always involved in community activities, he was a volunteer scout mas­ter, football coach, member of Kiwanis and the West Point Society, Deacon, Elder, and Elder Emeritus at his church.</p>
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His classmates knew him as a close friend and natural leader. Tom Auger said Don was his hero from Plebe year. Not only had he completed two years at Annapolis, he proudly wore the shiny parachutist badge on his cadet uniform. As the years passed, Tom said he came to know Don as one of the finest human beings he ever had met. Joe Vincent remembers him as “unflappable, cool, and always with a smile,” Al Spaulding says “his wit and friendliness will be missed.” Dick Prater calls Don “one of a kind,” and Tom West praises Don for his engendering the “qualities of Duty, Honor, Country that we all sought.”</p>
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Don was well known and widely respect­ed among all cadet companies and classes. Carl McNair claims to have told more asso­ciates over his lifetime about Don’s love and commitment to West Point than any other he has known.</p>
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Don was preceded in death by Nancy Johnson Reid. He is survived by Joyce Seay Reid; his children: Donna Quesnell, Mary Long and LTC Dan Reid; Joyce’s children: Beth Allen and Becky Osterkamp; and 13 grandchildren.</p>
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Don was laid to rest at Arlington Cemetery on 15 Feb 2007, a bitterly cold day. Numerous friends and classmates braved the elements to join the family in paying their final respects. His son Dan praised Don’s staunch devotion to West Point and the principles of Duty, Honor, Country.</p>
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A memorial service in Fayetteville’s First Presbyterian Church followed a week later. Friends and classmates contributed for a commemorative paver stone at the Airborne & Special Operations Museum, dedicated 4 Aug 2007.</p>
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His family expresses deep love for their loving husband, father, and friend. His classmates also miss a most loyal friend and gallant soldier. Quoting the Alma Mater, may it be said WELL DONE, Don.</p>
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—<em>Fondly, classmates and family</em></p>