William Reed was born on February 21, 1839 in Union County, Pennsylvania. He tried to enlist in the Union Army at Pekin, Tazewell County, Illinois where he lived. Because the Illinois soldier quota was already filled, Reed and a friend traveled to Saint Louis to join the Union Army. They were two of 680 volunteers who formed the 8th Missouri Volunteer Infantry.

William Reed’s Medal of Honor citation read: "The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Private William Reed, United States Army, for gallantry in the charge of the volunteer storming party on 22 May 1863, while serving with Company H, 8th Missouri Infantry, in action at Vicksburg, Mississippi."

The award was issued on December 12, 1895.

Reed died on May 30, 1918 and was buried in Riverview Cemetery, Huntingdon, Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania.

References:
Congressional Medal of Honor Society
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