Louisville World War II veteran receives posthumous Bronze Star

Nov 27, 2023
Nov 27, 2023 Updated Nov 27, 2023

Posthumous Bronze Star Medal honor given to Louisville soldier

The honor was to acknowledge the heroic service of World War II veteran Staff Sgt. Howard E. Reed.

Reed's Grandson Councilman Scott Reed reading the letter.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A Louisville soldier received the military's fourth-highest honor nearly 80 years after dying in combat.

U.S. Sen. Rand Paul hosted a posthumous Bronze Star Medal ceremony Monday for a World War II veteran at Locust Grove in Louisville. The family of Staff Sgt. Howard E. Reed was honored with a Bronze Star, which is awarded to members of the U.S. armed forces who show heroic achievement in a war zone.

Reed's grandson, District 16 Metro Council Member Scott Reed, was there and shared with attendees a letter that his grandfather wrote to his family before dying in combat.

Reed had received a deferment from the military but chose to enlist and serve anyway. He was killed while in action in France in 1944 at the age of 23.