John A. Reed entered the military service in Indiana. He served in the 1327th Army Air Force Base Unit, Air Transport Command as a Private First Class and an Engineer of an aircraft during World War II. He was declared "Missing in Action" on November 13, 1944 and is commemorated on the Walls of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery, Taguig City, Philippines. PFC Reed was one of over 2000 Americans who lost their lives defending China from their Japanese invaders from 1941-1945. He is commemorated on the The Monument to the Aviation Martyrs in the War of Resistance Against Japan in Nanjing, China. He was one of over 2000 Americans who lost their lives defending China from their Japanese invaders from 1941-1945. He is commemorated on the The Monument to the Aviation Martyrs in the War of Resistance Against Japan in Nanjing, China.