Mitchell Reed

Mitchell Reed was drafted into the U.S. Army on September 19, 1967.

A member of the 25th Infantry Division, on January 1, 1969 while in the area of Dầu Tiếng, Vietnam, Reed was driving the lead armored personnel carrier (APC) escorting a supply convoy. About 1,000 meters before the gate Reed pulled his APC off to the side of the road to allow the rest of the convoy to proceed. While turning his APC around, Reed struck a land mine under the drivers hatch that severely damaged the vehicle and resulted in shrapnel wounds to his leg.

Just over a month later, Reed was part of a Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC) platoon that was called in when NVA forces attacked the bunkers east of the air strip. While Reed was driving a NVA soldier stood up and fired a rocket propelled grenade (RPG) at his APC, setting it on fire. As Reed stood to exit, he was hit by enemy fire that blew him back about 20 feet. Reed suffered a chest wound and the resulting firefight forced Reed to stay stranded in his location overnight. Finally, at 5:30 the next morning, he was rescued but before he could be airlifted to the hospital the fellow soldiers had to deal with a sniper. Eventually, Reed was flown to Vung Tau where he received his award through the military mail system at the hospital. Finally, in August 1969, Reed received an honorable discharge from the Army.

Along with his Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, SPC Reed was awarded numerous medals and commendations throughout his career, including the Bronze Star with Valor, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, and more.

As a member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH), Reed was involved in the Broken Arrow Veterans Center and helped expand the Purple Heart Cities program. As Commander of MOPH Chapter 589, Reed helped establish Tulsa County as the state’s first Purple Heart County. Today he is the Legislative Ambassador for the MOPH Department of Oklahoma.

He was nominated to take part in the 2021 Patriot Project Mission by fellow Purple Heart recipient Gary Lewis, who was honored during the 2019 Purple Heart Patriot Project.