Name/Title
Harrodsburg Tankers: Field ReedEntry/Object ID
2024.8.20Description
Private First Class Field McLeod Reed, Jr. joined the Harrodsburg tank company sometime before the unit was activated in November 1940. He was a truck driver for the unit and spent four months attempting to deliver ammunition and gasoline to the tanks, with often only an idea where the tanks might be. He was taken prisoner on April 9, 1942 and made his way to Mariveles where he began the Death March. A piece of shrapnel wounded Reed during the march from an artillery round fired from Corregidor, in an exchange with Japanese artillery near the march route. He was able to barrow a hidden knife and cut the shrapnel out of his leg. Near San Fernando, Field was bayoneted by a guard and he continued the march bleeding. He was put on a train to Capas and then marched to Camp O'Donnell. He was later sent to Cabanatuan and then on to a work detail to Las Pinas to work on runways at Nichols Field. Here he received a beating from his captors that resulted in permanent hearing loss. He was later put in a sweatbox for two weeks for breaking a guard’s jaw. He was then returned to Cabanautan. He was still there when the U.S. Army Rangers liberated the prisoners in January 1945 and they made it safely to the American lines. He returned to Harrodsburg.Collection
Armstrong ArchivesCreated By
dak@mcplib.infoCreate Date
July 30, 2024Updated By
dak@mcplib.infoUpdate Date
July 30, 2024
