Private First Class Reed was a member of the 32nd Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He was seriously wounded by the enemy in North Korea on 13 November 1951 and returned to duty on 10 December 1951. He died of other causes in North Korea on 27 January 1952.

Reed was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Korean War Service Medal.