Madisonville has been the home of the American Legion Austin Reed Post 84 for many years now. Until recently, all I’ve known was that it existed and where, with the modern address of 800 North May. I’m sharing what I have learned.

The American Legion was chartered by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic veterans’ organization, focusing on service to veterans, service members, and communities. It evolved from a group of weary World War I veterans into an influential nonprofit group. Through the years, it has enhanced the well-being of American veterans, their families, our military, and our communities. It has won hundreds of benefits for veterans and produced many important programs for children and youth. It also pays perpetual respect for all past military sacrifices, ensuring they are never forgotten by new generations.

Now, regarding the Austin Reed part, our post was named in honor of Austin McGary Reed, the first Madison County son killed in action in World War I. As First Sergeant, Company E, 36th Infantry, 2nd Division, he was killed September 13, 1918, in St. Mihiel, France.

His body was brought home for interment in 1921, at which time a notice appeared on that July 20 edition of the Normangee newspaper, saying “The body of Sergeant Austin Reed, killed in action in France, arrived here and will be laid to rest in the old Willow Hole Cemetery near North Zulch, TX, at some time this week. The date was not fixed owing to having to wait for the arrival of his brother from Dawson County.”

According to his draft registration card, Austin Reed was born August 3, 1889, in Zulch, Texas. A family essay in our county history states that his father raised his children in the community of George, which is between Normangee and North Zulch.

Austin M. Reed completed that card on June 5, 1917, making him almost 28 years old. On the registration, he stated that he was a farm laborer and listed as a dependent one child under the age of 12. That child, his son Austin Denman Reed, was not yet five years old and had lost his mother, Minnie Denman Reed, on the day of his birth.

According to notes I found, Minnie was only 16 when she gave birth and died on December 12, 1912. Notes state that Austin then wrapped his newborn “in a sheepskin coat and took him horseback to Francis Ann Reed Comstock and husband Thomas W. Comstock in George.” Francis Ann was Austin McGary’s sister, six years older. She and her husband had a two-year-old son already, which may have given the father faith in her mothering ability. He could not look to his own mother or his wife for help, as both had died years earlier. I have not found anything regarding who raised the child. Findagrave shows Midway as that son’s birthplace. If that’s a fact, that December horseback ride was around 25 miles! If anyone knows more about it, - speak up.

That son, Austin Denman Reed (1912-1956), grew up and enlisted in the U.S. Navy on December 5, 1940. As 1st Sergeant, Company E, 360th Infantry, he was on board the USS Vestal in Pearl Harbor on the morning World War II was declared. Wounded that day, he was later awarded a purple heart plus several other medals during his military career. His last duty was aboard the USS Tringa (ASR 16), one of our submarine rescue ships. On May 25, 1949, he was discharged for medical reasons. I found handwritten notes that he had continued to suffer from his Pearl Harbor injuries. His grave is in Houston’s Forest Park Cemetery.

The third generation in that line included James Denman Reed (1933-2020). He was a gunnery mate in the Navy, served in Korea, and was ultimately interred in Houston National Cemetery. He left notes saying he was the last of his line to carry the Reed name.

There should still be some of these men’s kin around here, including relations named Denman, Rasco, Boswell, Duncan, or more. If any know things to add to the above, I’d sure like to hear. Contact information follows below.

Back to the fighting at St. Mihiel. The battle, fought September 12-15, 1918, was the first large offensive launched by the U.S. Army in World War I, though we had declared war April 6, 1917. Fourteen divisions of American troops were involved, or 550,000 men, under the command of General John J. Pershing. Pershing had hoped our troops could break through German lines and capture the fortified city of Metz, but that did not happen. Still, the battle established the stature of our army in the eyes of the French and British forces. Of American troops, 7,000 were killed in action and 2,500 were wounded, while Germany had 2,000 killed in action, 5,500 wounded, and 15,000 taken as prisoners of war. The war ended in less than two months, on November 11, 1918.

I found a chart that numbered our country’s World War I combat deaths as almost five million. Almost five million lives snuffed out like that of our Austin McGary Reed. Of that many grieving families, I wonder how many of those families’ members kept stepping up to serve our country, like the son and grandson above. Whoever served, God bless them!

If you have information or stories to share relating to this post, please do so. Madison County Museum, located at 201 North Madison Street, is open to the public Wednesday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The mailing address is P.O. Box 61, Madisonville, TX 77864. The Musings author can also be contacted at lacannon1952@hotmail.com. You also might enjoy the Madison County Museum Facebook page, which we try to keep busy with old photos and facts.