Love and Sacrifice

A World War Brings Double Tragedy to an American Family

Love and Sacrifice is the never-before-told true story of a father and son killed in World War II.

The reader follows the Reed family journey through the first half of the 20th century as they travel the country and globe in military service. Their stories are told through loving letters among family members, personal diaries, and the vivid recollections of wife and mother, Mildred Reed. The text is illustrated with more than 300 images interwoven to illuminate their experiences in full light.

Mildred Boddy and Ollie Reed were born at the turn of the 20th century on the windblown prairies of northwestern Kansas. High school sweethearts, Ollie was offered the chance to attend West Point following graduation but decided to stay in Kansas to be near Mildred. Attending Kansas State University in the approach to WWI, Ollie joined the ROTC. As war grew closer, he left school to join the infantry and begin a lifelong military career.

Mildred and Ollie soon married, but army duty often kept the couple apart. Mildred joined Ollie whenever should could, always aware that each station could be the last before he left for war.

Ollie was not called for overseas service in the First World War making it possible for him to travel from his post at Camp Upton on Long Island to Connecticut in January 1919 for the birth of their son, Ollie W. Reed, Jr.

Rising through the ranks from an enlisted private, Lt. Reed was called to Europeafter the war to serve in the Army of Occupation in the Rhineland with Mildred and Buddy joining as soon as they could.

Returning to the U.S., a second son was born, Ted. Ollie remained in the Army through the inter-war years and led military science programs at Drexel University in Philadelphia and the Wentworth Military Academy in Lexington, Missouri. The appointment to Wentworth was an honor, accepted especially on behalf of Buddy who had reached his teenage years. Ollie hoped that his eldest son would exceed his father's footsteps.

Graduating from Wentworth, Buddy was accepted to West Point. The rigors of the academy proved extremely tough but he fought to continue.

With Buddy at West Point, Ollie was assigned to the Philippines. In personal letters and memoirs, Mildred wrote with great flourish of the new and strange world around her.

Japan threatened and American families were evacuated. Ted left first the Philippines while Mildred refused to go. She left in time with Ollie not far behind as he fell ill with malaria. He was recuperating in San Francisco when Pearl Harbor was attacked.

Buddy graduated West Point in 1942, the first class to graduate into WWII. He broke the heart of Nancy Campbell back in Lexington when he married Laura Sloman immediately after graduation. A brief honeymoon led straight to Ft. Benning for training and then assignment to the 91st Division in Oregon. There, Laura became pregnant, and then Buddy had to leave his young wife and infant son for the European war.

Ollie also was called overseas, first to the UK for D-Day preparations and then command of the 175th Regiment in France. Tthe war of the hedgerows raged and men died, while Ollie wrote to ease Mildred’s mind, simply asking for her prayers.

At this same time, Buddy landed in Italy as a platoon leader in the 363rd Regiment.

Then, the unthinkable happened.

Love and Sacrifice harkens to a simpler time in America with a mother leading a family through frequent relocations, raising two sons, and then holding the family together with strength derived from a firm belief in God and the goodness of humanity.

The nonfiction true story, Love and Sacrifice, is suitable for adult and young adult readers, with special interest for veterans, Army officers, USMA grads, and, especially, military families, and those interested in military history, American history, World War II, biography, and genealogy.