Lindal Theodore "Ted" Van Meter, Jr

REED AND I WERE FRIENDS FROM MIDDLE SCHOOL THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL. WE CONTINUED OUR FRIENDSHIP FOR DECADES. ONE OF THE THINGS I REMEMBER MOST ABOUT REED WAS WHEN I FIRST SAW HIM AFTER I WAS RELEASED FROM MILITARY DUTY AND HE RETURNED TO ODESSA AFTER A TOUR IN VIETNAM. REED WAS NOT THE SAME PERSON I HAD KNOWN PREVIOUSLY. HE EXPERIENCED GROUND COMBAT IN THE VIETNAM JUNGLE AND THE EXPERIENCE HAD A LIFE CHANGING EFFECT ON HIM. HE HAD A LOT OF PROBLEMS ADJUSTING TO LIFE AFTER THAT. THE LAST TIME I SAW HIM WAS BACK IN APPROXIMATELY 2001. HE WAS LIVING IN A NURSING HOME OUTSIDE AUSTIN CLOSE TO HIS FATHERS RESIDENCE. HE DIDN'T RECOGNIZE ME AT FIRST, BUT AFTER WE TALIKED FOR AWHILE, HE REMEMBERED ME.

ANOTHER MEMORY OF REED THAT STICKS WITH ME IS THE TIME HE, G.W. GARY GOODSON AND I WENT CAMPING AND TROUT FISHING IN THE GILA NATIONAL FOREST IN NEW MEXICO. THIS WAS IN APPROXIMATELY 1997. WE CAMPED UP IN THE MOUNTAINS FOR ALMOST A WEEK AND WE HAD A REALLY GOOD TIME. THESE ARE GOOD MEMORIES I HAVE OF BOTH OF THEM. I MISS THESE OLD FRIENDS. THEY WERE THE ONLY LONG TERM FRIENDSHIPS I HAD FROM MY CHILDHOOD.

Jimmie John Robinson

Reed Wayne Scott..passed away on February 22, 2014 at North Park Health and Rehabilitation Center in McKinney, Texas.  Reed was born July 9, 1947 in San Angelo, Texas to N.O. and Polly Magee Scott.  He served in the United States Army and was in food service.

He is survided by his father, N.O. Scott of Van Alstyne; brothers and their wives, Nelson and Sue Scott of Keller, Texas, Guy and Marsha Scott of Van Alstyne, and several nieces, cousins, and nephews.

Jimmie John Robinson

(Note: This was at the 15 year reunion, Me, Gary Goodson, and Reed, photo taken by Rick Zellars.)

Reed Scott was my first best friend in Odessa.  I met Reed when my family moved to N. Jackson, behind Furrs.  His family lived over on Hancock.  That was when we were in the 7th grade.  Reed's Dad got him a Mustang motorcycle to run his paper route.  I had a Cushman and we terrorized  the neighborhood constantly that summer.

 
We began the 8th grade at Hood the first year it opened in 1960.  Me and Reed broke in Hood Jr. High the correct way.   I can't recall who held the front door open, either LeRoy Gilliam or Dale Whiteside, but Reed held the door at the end of the hall open for me to escape.  I was on Reed's Mustang, went in the front door, turned right and headed down the hall for the exit.  If it hadn't of been for Reed, I would have been busted big time.  We are lucky no one walked out of a classroom.   They never knew who the culprits were.

We watched the What-a-burger #24 being built on Andrews Hwy., and was standing at the door for the Grand Opening on March 21, 1961.   We decided that they was the greatest burger we had ever eaten, and constantly watched the girl make the change, hopeing that she would forget to dip her fingers in the little bowl of water after making the change so we could get our next meal there free.  It never happened.

My family moved over on Catalina the next summer, so I went back to Bowie.  Reed stayed at Hood, but we still ran the streets together and couldn't wait to get to OHS.  We would walk over to the Plains Drivein, sneak over the fence and sit in the section in front of the concession stand.

 
OHS was everything we expected...great.  We was grabbed up by the Cretans Tri-Hi-Y club,  along with my 2nd best friend, Rick Zellars. The Three Muskateers was formed.  Our sister club was the Amicas...The Tri-Hi-Y clubs was the greatest things that ever happened in high school.  My Dad bought me my first car, a canary yellow 1949 DeSoto convertible.  That was the coolest car any kid could have.  Always full of kids  going round OHS before school and lunchtime.  We all wore horseshoe taps and would hang onto the back bumper and ski on our heels till they got hot.  Reed had just finished his turn and got in the back seat.  There was a girl in the back in shorts, Reed accidently touched her bare leg with his hot tap and branded her.  I can't recall her name to this day.  My DeSoto finally wore out and would be too exepensive to fix.  Reed got a 1957 Ford and I got a 1957 Chevy.  They was to last us thru our high school years...

We graduated and Reed went to the Army and I went to the Navy.  We didn't see each other again til 1970. We went our different ways.   Reed never got married.  I got married while I was in the Navy and was divorced in 1978.  I got hold of Reed and he was living in Austin.  We spent a lot of time together then and Rick was in Georgetown, so the Three Muskateers was back together for awhile.

 
Reed had a golden lab named Jody, she was the smartest dog that I have ever knew.  I loved that dog.  When she died, we were heartbroken.

 
I moved to Odessa in 1981 and moved back to Austin in 1984 and shared an apartment with Reed.  One day, he came out of his bedroom and had a box and told me to look at these.  They was his service medals.  He put them away and we never spoke of them again.  Reed was changed after coming back from Vietnam.  Those medals were a well-kept secret, because Reed was so modest and quiet, never bragging about the heroic deeds he accomplished in Vietnam.

Just before I moved to Tennessee in 1986, Reed went with me to pick out a Cocker Spaniel pup.  We was on the way home and we was trying to think of what to name her.  Reed was holding her and she was looking out the window.  He said, how about calling her Lookout?  I changed his mind.  Reeds old Lab had died while I was living in Odessa, so I named her Jody.  Every dog I have had since (4) has been named Jody.  Reed was happy with that name.

In 1968, Reed received the Army Commendation Medal for heroism in connection with military operations against hostile forces.  He served as a squad leader in Company B, 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry.  One 5 June 1968, his squad became separated from the main element, due to intense enemy fire.  Quickly, he maneuvered his men into a defensive perimeter and moved from position to position to insure that his men were safe.  Reed's personal bravery and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military and reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Army.

Reed also received:
The Letter "V" device to be worn with the Commendation Award.
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
2 Bronze Star Medals w/V-device
Combat Medical Badge
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Ribbon
Sharpshooter Badge w/Rifle and Automatic Rifle Bars

Yes...Reed was indeed a war hero...and when his Mother, Polly Scott, found those medals one day, she asked him what they was for.  It upset Reed that she had found them and all he said was, "They were for staying alive."

Reed had been battling diabetes since Vietnam, and finally lost his battle on 22 Feb. 2014.  He was laid to rest next to his Mother in Lakeland Hills Memorial Park at Burnet, Texas.  He was followed by his Daddy, N.O. Scott, 7 months later.

Rick Zellars and I attended the funeral.  It was a Army Veterans Military funeral.  The Three Muskateers were together again for the final time.
  
Jimmie John Robinson