USMA Class of 1936. Cullum No. 10568.
He was the son of Ed Reece and Mrs. M.M. Owens of Holdenville, Oklahoma.
On August 5, 1936 as Eugene V. Reece, he married Catherine S. Eastburn at Cornwall, New York.
Sixty-Ninth Annual Report of the Association of Graduates of the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, June 13, 1938, The Moore Printing Company, Newburgh, New York.
Eugene Virgil Reece
No. 10568. Class of 1936.
Died December 12, 1937, at Clarksburg, West Virginia, aged 26 years.
Eugen Virgil Reece was born at Weleetka, Oklahoma, on September 15, 1911, the only child of his widowed mother. During his childhood he continued to live in Oklahoma, attending public schools and frequently visiting his grandfather's farm, of which he had very happy recollections.
After his graduation from the high school in Holdenville he joined the local National Guard unit with Captain Hugh McConville as his officer. With the help and encouragement of this friend, he began to realize that his dream of entering West Point could eventually he accomplished and after two years of working along many different lines in his home town he became a private in the 9th Infantry at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, before his twentieth birthday. While in Texas he took the competitive examination for entrance to the Military Academy and attended the West Point Preparatory School.
He entered West Point July 1, 1932 and was graduated as 2nd Lieutenant of Cavalry June 12, 1936. The following summer he spent as a riding instructor in a boy's camp and on September 3rd was married and went to Texas where he attended the Air Corps Primary Flying School at Randolph Field. He was found to have failed to meet the requirements and on February 2, 1937, left Texas to take up his duties as a Cavalry officer with the 14th Cavalry at Fort Des Moines, Iowa.
His son, Eugene Virgil Reece Jr. was born there on October 18, 1937, but died on November 6. This was such a severe shock to him that he took a month's leave of absence and went, with his wife, to visit her people in the east. On their return to Iowa the [auto] accident occurred which caused the untimely end of this fine life. He was buried, with full military honors, at West Point, where his son is buried with him.
In character, personality, habit and appearance, Gene, (or as his classmates knew him, Virge) was every inch a soldier and a gentleman. Although he was taller than average, his very erect posture was especially noticeable when mounted. It was entirely foreign to his nature to be coarse or slovenly in any small detail. In all his endeavors he was firm, honest and thorough, always finishing well any work he had begun. He had acquired the excellent habit of putting himself in. other's positions and the men under him loved him for his fairness. He loved his work and often remarked that nothing could beat the combination of a man and a horse.
His colonel in the 14th Cavalry said:
Reece was a splendid young officer and one who gave unusual promise of a bright future. He appealed to me especially by his fine performance of duty, sincerity and the way he looked out for and took care of men under him. His untimely death was a real loss to the army and to the cavalry.
Hidden deep beneath his military attitude was an unsuspected tenderness which made all who knew him well love him.
His loving
Catha Reece.
He was the son of Ed Reece and Mrs. M.M. Owens of Holdenville, Oklahoma.
On August 5, 1936 as Eugene V. Reece, he married Catherine S. Eastburn at Cornwall, New York.
Sixty-Ninth Annual Report of the Association of Graduates of the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, June 13, 1938, The Moore Printing Company, Newburgh, New York.
Eugene Virgil Reece
No. 10568. Class of 1936.
Died December 12, 1937, at Clarksburg, West Virginia, aged 26 years.
Eugen Virgil Reece was born at Weleetka, Oklahoma, on September 15, 1911, the only child of his widowed mother. During his childhood he continued to live in Oklahoma, attending public schools and frequently visiting his grandfather's farm, of which he had very happy recollections.
After his graduation from the high school in Holdenville he joined the local National Guard unit with Captain Hugh McConville as his officer. With the help and encouragement of this friend, he began to realize that his dream of entering West Point could eventually he accomplished and after two years of working along many different lines in his home town he became a private in the 9th Infantry at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, before his twentieth birthday. While in Texas he took the competitive examination for entrance to the Military Academy and attended the West Point Preparatory School.
He entered West Point July 1, 1932 and was graduated as 2nd Lieutenant of Cavalry June 12, 1936. The following summer he spent as a riding instructor in a boy's camp and on September 3rd was married and went to Texas where he attended the Air Corps Primary Flying School at Randolph Field. He was found to have failed to meet the requirements and on February 2, 1937, left Texas to take up his duties as a Cavalry officer with the 14th Cavalry at Fort Des Moines, Iowa.
His son, Eugene Virgil Reece Jr. was born there on October 18, 1937, but died on November 6. This was such a severe shock to him that he took a month's leave of absence and went, with his wife, to visit her people in the east. On their return to Iowa the [auto] accident occurred which caused the untimely end of this fine life. He was buried, with full military honors, at West Point, where his son is buried with him.
In character, personality, habit and appearance, Gene, (or as his classmates knew him, Virge) was every inch a soldier and a gentleman. Although he was taller than average, his very erect posture was especially noticeable when mounted. It was entirely foreign to his nature to be coarse or slovenly in any small detail. In all his endeavors he was firm, honest and thorough, always finishing well any work he had begun. He had acquired the excellent habit of putting himself in. other's positions and the men under him loved him for his fairness. He loved his work and often remarked that nothing could beat the combination of a man and a horse.
His colonel in the 14th Cavalry said:
Reece was a splendid young officer and one who gave unusual promise of a bright future. He appealed to me especially by his fine performance of duty, sincerity and the way he looked out for and took care of men under him. His untimely death was a real loss to the army and to the cavalry.
Hidden deep beneath his military attitude was an unsuspected tenderness which made all who knew him well love him.
His loving
Catha Reece.
USMA Class of 1936. Cullum No. 10568.
He was the son of Ed Reece and Mrs. M.M. Owens of Holdenville, Oklahoma.
On August 5, 1936 as Eugene V. Reece, he married Catherine S. Eastburn at Cornwall, New York.
Sixty-Ninth Annual Report of the Association of Graduates of the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, June 13, 1938, The Moore Printing Company, Newburgh, New York.
Eugene Virgil Reece
No. 10568. Class of 1936.
Died December 12, 1937, at Clarksburg, West Virginia, aged 26 years.
Eugen Virgil Reece was born at Weleetka, Oklahoma, on September 15, 1911, the only child of his widowed mother. During his childhood he continued to live in Oklahoma, attending public schools and frequently visiting his grandfather's farm, of which he had very happy recollections.
After his graduation from the high school in Holdenville he joined the local National Guard unit with Captain Hugh McConville as his officer. With the help and encouragement of this friend, he began to realize that his dream of entering West Point could eventually he accomplished and after two years of working along many different lines in his home town he became a private in the 9th Infantry at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, before his twentieth birthday. While in Texas he took the competitive examination for entrance to the Military Academy and attended the West Point Preparatory School.
He entered West Point July 1, 1932 and was graduated as 2nd Lieutenant of Cavalry June 12, 1936. The following summer he spent as a riding instructor in a boy's camp and on September 3rd was married and went to Texas where he attended the Air Corps Primary Flying School at Randolph Field. He was found to have failed to meet the requirements and on February 2, 1937, left Texas to take up his duties as a Cavalry officer with the 14th Cavalry at Fort Des Moines, Iowa.
His son, Eugene Virgil Reece Jr. was born there on October 18, 1937, but died on November 6. This was such a severe shock to him that he took a month's leave of absence and went, with his wife, to visit her people in the east. On their return to Iowa the [auto] accident occurred which caused the untimely end of this fine life. He was buried, with full military honors, at West Point, where his son is buried with him.
In character, personality, habit and appearance, Gene, (or as his classmates knew him, Virge) was every inch a soldier and a gentleman. Although he was taller than average, his very erect posture was especially noticeable when mounted. It was entirely foreign to his nature to be coarse or slovenly in any small detail. In all his endeavors he was firm, honest and thorough, always finishing well any work he had begun. He had acquired the excellent habit of putting himself in. other's positions and the men under him loved him for his fairness. He loved his work and often remarked that nothing could beat the combination of a man and a horse.
His colonel in the 14th Cavalry said:
Reece was a splendid young officer and one who gave unusual promise of a bright future. He appealed to me especially by his fine performance of duty, sincerity and the way he looked out for and took care of men under him. His untimely death was a real loss to the army and to the cavalry.
Hidden deep beneath his military attitude was an unsuspected tenderness which made all who knew him well love him.
His loving
Catha Reece.
He was the son of Ed Reece and Mrs. M.M. Owens of Holdenville, Oklahoma.
On August 5, 1936 as Eugene V. Reece, he married Catherine S. Eastburn at Cornwall, New York.
Sixty-Ninth Annual Report of the Association of Graduates of the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, June 13, 1938, The Moore Printing Company, Newburgh, New York.
Eugene Virgil Reece
No. 10568. Class of 1936.
Died December 12, 1937, at Clarksburg, West Virginia, aged 26 years.
Eugen Virgil Reece was born at Weleetka, Oklahoma, on September 15, 1911, the only child of his widowed mother. During his childhood he continued to live in Oklahoma, attending public schools and frequently visiting his grandfather's farm, of which he had very happy recollections.
After his graduation from the high school in Holdenville he joined the local National Guard unit with Captain Hugh McConville as his officer. With the help and encouragement of this friend, he began to realize that his dream of entering West Point could eventually he accomplished and after two years of working along many different lines in his home town he became a private in the 9th Infantry at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, before his twentieth birthday. While in Texas he took the competitive examination for entrance to the Military Academy and attended the West Point Preparatory School.
He entered West Point July 1, 1932 and was graduated as 2nd Lieutenant of Cavalry June 12, 1936. The following summer he spent as a riding instructor in a boy's camp and on September 3rd was married and went to Texas where he attended the Air Corps Primary Flying School at Randolph Field. He was found to have failed to meet the requirements and on February 2, 1937, left Texas to take up his duties as a Cavalry officer with the 14th Cavalry at Fort Des Moines, Iowa.
His son, Eugene Virgil Reece Jr. was born there on October 18, 1937, but died on November 6. This was such a severe shock to him that he took a month's leave of absence and went, with his wife, to visit her people in the east. On their return to Iowa the [auto] accident occurred which caused the untimely end of this fine life. He was buried, with full military honors, at West Point, where his son is buried with him.
In character, personality, habit and appearance, Gene, (or as his classmates knew him, Virge) was every inch a soldier and a gentleman. Although he was taller than average, his very erect posture was especially noticeable when mounted. It was entirely foreign to his nature to be coarse or slovenly in any small detail. In all his endeavors he was firm, honest and thorough, always finishing well any work he had begun. He had acquired the excellent habit of putting himself in. other's positions and the men under him loved him for his fairness. He loved his work and often remarked that nothing could beat the combination of a man and a horse.
His colonel in the 14th Cavalry said:
Reece was a splendid young officer and one who gave unusual promise of a bright future. He appealed to me especially by his fine performance of duty, sincerity and the way he looked out for and took care of men under him. His untimely death was a real loss to the army and to the cavalry.
Hidden deep beneath his military attitude was an unsuspected tenderness which made all who knew him well love him.
His loving
Catha Reece.
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