Major Reid Nannen, son of Mary Ann and Dale Nannen, was a Hopedale native. Reid attended Olympia High School and was a two-year captain of the swim team, section leader for the drum line, a member of Elite Eight baseball teams in 1999 and 2000 and was an Illinois State Scholar.

After graduating from Olympia, Reid attended the University of Illinois, where he was a member of the NROTC battalion and participated in the Marching Illini Drum Line and NROTC Drill Team.

Reid enlisted in the U.S. Marines and was commissioned a 2ndLT in May 2004.  He attended The Basic School with Delta Company class 4-04. After TBS, Reid attended Naval Aviation Training with MATSG-21 at NAS Pensacola, NAS Whiting Field and NAS Meridian. Reid received his Wings of Gold in February 2007 and was selected to fly F/A-18 Hornets. Reid moved to Lemoore, Calif., for fleet replacement training with VFA-125 in May of 2007. After finishing carrier qualification, Reid reported for duty with MAG-11 at MCAS Miramar. In June 2008, he joined VMFA (AW)-232 and deployed from May to December of 2010 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom 10.2 to Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan.

​While with the Red Devils, Reid served as NATOPS, Ground Safety, Airframes and Embark Officers. Reid attended Tactical Air Control Party training in May of 2011 and proceeded to Camp Pendleton, Calif., for duty as a forward air controller with 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance battalion. Reid again deployed to Afghanistan from October of 2011 to May of 2012 with 1st LAR in support of OEF 12.1 in the lower Helmand River Valley in Afghanistan. Reid supported every company within 1st LAR and conducted the first company level helicopter operations within the battle space. Reid returned to Camp Pendleton and subsequently detached from the battalion for refresher training at VMFAT-101. In August of 2012, he transferred to VMFA (AW)-242, based in Iwakuni, Japan, where he served as the Assistant Operations Officer.

Major Nannen's awards and decorations include the NATO Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, National Defense Medal, Navy Unit Commendation, Navy Achievement Medal, Navy Commendation Medal and Air Medal.
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Major Nannen left behind his wife Sarah, also a Military Veteran, and four young children, Peter, Curtis, Betsy, and Isla. Reid truly defines a "Home Town Hero" worthy of this recognition in a beautiful memorial.

Major Reid Nannen