Fire of Patriotism: Remembering Reed Harwood Dominy

Reed Harwood Dominy
Captain, US Army Air Forces
World War II, Missing In Action
Updated Story

April 16, 2016 - Today we remember Captain Reed Dominy who was declared missing in action 72 years ago. In November 2012 I wrote his story that was published in the local media. He was the son of Mr. & Mrs. Reed Hughes Dominy of Center. His mother’s name was Maude Inez Baker Dominy and he had a sister named Mabel. Captain Dominy graduated from Groveton High School in 1934 and attended school at Stephen F. Austin State Teacher’s College in Nacogdoches. He then taught school in Longview. His marriage to Melba Roussseau produced one daughter, Mary Margaret. Captain Dominy entered the Army Air Corps in 1941 and earned his commission and pilot’s wings at Williams Air Field, Arizona. The circumstances of his death remain unknown except that the P-38 Fighter he was piloting went down on April 15th, 1944. Whether he was shot down by enemy aircraft is not known. His name is inscribed on the Wall of the Missing in the Netherlands American Cemetery which has a rich historical background, lying near the famous Cologne-Boulogne highway built by the Romans and used by Caesar during his campaign in that area.

Shortly after this article was published I received an email from Mr. Ron Dumoulin who lives in the Netherland in the province of Limburg. He said “that he had read my article about Captain Dominy and told me that he had adopted the name of Captain Dominy and honors him each year on his birthday of November 21st, the date he died or was declared missing April 15th, their National Memory Day of May 4th, our Memorial Day of May 30th, and Independence Day July 4th. I asked Ron about the adoption of those buried there at the Netherlands American Cemetery and he told me that there are 8,301 graves of fallen American Soldiers and every grave has been adopted by a family in Limburg. He said that there is even a waiting list of families who want to adopt a grave. Ron said that on the wall of the missing there are 1,722 names of American Soldiers and he like many others chose a name from the wall to insure they are not forgotten. This is much like our national POW/MIA motto of “You Are Not Forgotten”.

Today I received another email from Ron with this photo of his memorial remembrance to Reed Dominy and a short video of the Netherlands American Cemetery. From the video you can see that it was a cold, gray, windy day but you can also see the beauty of the cemetery and the meticulous care of the 8,301 headstones of American Heroes buried on the 65.5 acres. Along with Captain Dominy there are 1,721 other names on the Wall of the Missing. It is so heartwarming to know that those who gave so much are being properly cared for and remembered by the citizens there. Not something we always do in our own country I am sad to say. In an email to Ron this morning I thanked him and his countrymen for their compassion and caring. If you would like to thank him personally also his email is dumoulir@icloud.com

Day is done, God is nigh.