[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 16 (Monday, February 4, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E84]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        HONORING THE LIFE OF LIEUTENANT COLONEL JACK REED, USAF

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. DAVID SCOTT

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, February 4, 2013

  Mr. DAVID SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart 
that I stand before you today to honor Lt. Col. Jack G. Reed, USAF 
(Ret.), who passed away at the age of 82 in December of 2012 in 
Granbury, TX. Lieutenant Colonel Reed was an honorable man who 
dedicated his life to his country.
  Lieutenant Colonel Jack Reed was born near Rio Vista, Texas, on 
August 25, 1930. After attending Texas Tech, Mr. Reed joined the United 
States Air Force in January 1951 as an enlisted Soldier during the 
Korean War. In 1953, his abilities soon won him entrance to the 
Aviation Cadet program and a commission as a Second Lieutenant.
  In 1954, Lieutenant Colonel Reed was selected for assignment to the 
B-47 program, and transferred to Mather AFB, Sacramento, CA. From 1954 
to 1960, Mr. Reed was assigned to the 22nd Bombardment Wing, March AFB, 
and Riverside, CA. From 1960 to 1965, Mr. Reed was assigned to B-58s 
with the 63rd Bomb Squadron, 43rd Bombardment Wing, Carswell AFB, and 
Fort Worth, TX, where he participated in military preparedness for 
action against Cuba during the missile crisis of 1962.
  Lieutenant Colonel Reed performed exceedingly above all that was 
asked of him as an Airman. In August 1965, Lieutenant Colonel Reed was 
one of two Air Force officers selected for assignment to the CIA/USAF 
programs OXCART/TAGBOARD/SENIOR BOWL at Groom Lake, NV, and later Beale 
AFB, CA.
  Lieutenant Colonel Reed was a well rounded individual who 
consistently went above and beyond for his country. In 1971, Lieutenant 
Colonel Reed began working for the Pentagon where he worked on leading 
edge technology for air and space-based reconnaissance assets, 
including the U-2R. Mr. Reed promoted the development of many of the 
first unmanned aircraft flown by the United States military.
  Lieutenant Colonel Reed's developmental work in the Air Force, Boeing 
and at Sperry/Unisys on unmanned air vehicles and remotely piloted 
aircraft led to the use of these systems today by various military 
departments and government agencies.
  Though committed to service, Jack was not consumed by work. Despite 
numerous and lengthy absences from home to serve his country, Mr. Reed 
loved and mentored his children, participated in their activities, was 
a deacon in church congregations, and found time to travel and enjoy 
the outdoors, particularly the challenge of fishing. Everybody was 
drawn to Mr. Reed's charisma, because he genuinely enjoyed helping 
children, family, and even strangers; learn more about the wonders of 
this world, how it worked and what made things grow.
  I commend Lieutenant Colonel Reed's contributions and his record of 
service to our Nation, his community and his family. I ask my 
colleagues to join me in extending heartfelt condolences to his wife of 
more than 59 years, Norma, his sons Jack W. Reed and Stephen E. Reed 
and their families.

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