Randolph Macon Academy - Sabre Yearbook (Bedford, VA)

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'X as yb:.i-'ff - . an - 6 t - , cs ., 521: asa- T f, 321: , I .e Q Q ,. , Q , 1 ojcatdzgtgz W, 3 QQ uf .. .- ' r . . . C, of if 515- ' I2-gl i b ,f f' i 2eL124..i'Q 22515 ' 1 I I Hagel S Eieiztrnant Qilvarsr Henle ilvrh l?fmf1'q11d1'1i'1'.v Cllllllfllllf-X', 116111 lfl'fjf'lIlt'llf, fllfflllflw, 29171 Dirfisinlz ESSE VEALE REED was born December l6, lS9l, in Suffolk, E Va. He was the only child of his mother, though by his father's first marriage there were five sisters and one brother. His father. 'gag Rev. james C. Reed, D. D., is an honored and beloved member of QV the Virginia Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. f- South, who served throughout the W7 ar Between the States and ' lost a hand in this conflict. The spirit of true patriotism, of un- daunted bravery, and of unseltish Christian service which char- acterized the father was notably transmitted to the son. who so nobly gave himself for the cause of freedom. Iessels early schooling was secured mainly under private teachers, and was often interrupted by the periodical moves from one charge to another- an inconvenience and handicap which families of Methodist preachers have to suffer. lhfhile living in Manchester, and later in Lynchburg, he attended the public high schools, where he made good progress. ln the fall of 1907, when his father was sent as presiding elder to the Rappahannock District, and moved his family to Ashland, .lesse was sent to Bedford and began his work as a student at Randolph-Macon. I-le attended the Academy for two sessions. During this time he won for himself the admiration and esteem of both stu- dents and faculty. ln his school life, as at home, he was always thoughtful of others, and his quiet but winning manner. together with his bright and happy disposition, made his presence more than acceptable in any group. How well do we remember the pleasant evenings of song and serenade during the session of 1908-O9 when jesse's clear. sweet tenor held one end of our double quartet! He was a member of the Academy dramatic club and was on the stag of the Rclmion Q'IlG'VfCl'ZiXl. . In September, 1909, he went to Randolph-Macon College, at -Ashland, where he remained for two sessions. The popularity which he enjoyed at the Academy was continued and developed at College. He early joined the Phi 6

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LIEUTENANT jsssn V. REED

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V1 .v?.!2!..?lLa ..Fa.,-f : 6 i, , .gfz .em -.Fa -. . lg '--a-sg,-.:?g.S'f.- N .- Q . it so f -2r'2q-gs-'2'g- --Y ' we Am 1 M' 6 , 4' if :' 5 , 5 32 - gghligivsiisarg 5535 f x . 1 7 Delta Theta Fraternity, and with the demands of glee club, fraternity, social life in the town, and annual staff his time was completely occupied. At the end of two years it seemed best to break away from some of these outside diversions which called him so eagerly. and which his accommodating spirit could not refuse. He left R.-M. C. and went to 'lfrinity College, North Carolina, for the session 1911-12. Though his work was good at Trinity and his stay there both pleasant and profitable, his heart was ever with Randolph-lVlacon. V One outstanding feature of .lesse's gifts was his talent for art and con- struction. This ability showed itself when he was a mere child and developed until, both at Randolph-lvlacon and at Trinity, he was made art editor of the annuals. In the spring of 1912, deciding to go into business, he began work with the Barrow Grocery Company, of Blackstone, Vaf iLater, when his father was moved to I-lampton. Va., he took a position in Norfolk with the Texas Oil Company, where he remained till he entered the service of his country. Wfhile working in Norfolk, Jesse, together with a number of his college and fraternity mates. joined Company G. 4th Virginia Regiment, National Guard. ln March, 1917, one mouth before war was declared. the Du Ponts requested the Government to give their plant at Hopewell a guard and blesses regiment was put on duty there. Vtfhile at this post he was made line sergeant. ln August of the same year they were ordered in training at Camp McClellan, Anniston, Ala. On September 4th they set out from Norfolk for Anniston. Sergeant Reed was at once made bayonet instructor, and his exceptional ability in this work won the attention and esteen of the commanding general with the result that on September 15th he was commissioned second lieu- tenant and put in charge of the Pioneer Platoon. The practical application of his training in art work at college is shown by the fact that the French instructor in trench digging pronounced Iesses trench and dugout the best that had been made at the Anniston camp. On April 23, 1918, he was given his commission as hrst lieutenant and placed in charge of a trench mortar platoon. On June 14th he sailed with his regiment from Hoboken and landed fourteen days later at St. Nazaire. From that time till October Sth his regiment was in training in the trenches and bchind the lines in Alsace-Lorraine. On October Sth, the 29th Division was - 7