Sergeant Tatjana Reed was born November 3, 1969, in Germany. She graduated from high school while in Germany, though her military service records list Fort Campbell, Kentucky, as her hometown of record. After high school, she decided to join the Unites States Army, and graduated from basic training in February 1991.
Friends and family remember her as a tender, loving, and deeply loyal person. A mother to her daughter, her fellow soldiers viewed Reed as a maternal figure as well, helping guide others through personal issues whenever she could offer assistance. In addition to her maternal role, Reed is also remembered as someone who could brew a strong cup of coffee that one soldier even remarked was better than Dunkin’ Donuts.
On July 22nd, 2004, in Samarra, Iraq, Sergeant Reed was killed when an improvised explosive device detonated near her vehicle. Specialist Torey J. Dantzler was also killed in the explosion. Sergeant Reed was 34.
Sergeant Reed was survived by her daughter, Genevieve, who had left a framed photo of herself in Sergeant Reed’s bag before she deployed. Upon unpacking once in country, Sergeant Reed reflected that she had excitedly found the photo and having it through deployment was deeply special to her.
Sources:
https://thefallen.militarytimes.com/army-sgt-tatjana-reed/274885
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/14166231/tatjana-reed#source
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