He Promised Me He Wouldn’t Do Anything Heroic
On April 9, 1949, 2nd Lieutenant Robert “Bob" Reem and Donna Zimmerli, both 24, were married at the US Naval Academy Chapel in Annapolis, Maryland. Bob, a prior enlisted Marine and graduate of the Naval Academy, and Donna, the daughter of a US Navy Captain and an alumna of the University of North Carolina, had their whole lives ahead of them.
Fourteen months later, the Korean War broke out.
Bob prepared for deployment to Korea, and Donna moved to Lyons, New York, to be with her parents. Before leaving, the Marine infantry lieutenant promised his wife he “wouldn’t do anything heroic.”
Chasing Reds Up and Down the Hills of Korea
Five months later, on November 6, 1950, less than three weeks after his 25th birthday, Lt. Reem, a platoon commander with Company H, Third Battalion, Seventh Marines, was leading his men against an entrenched hilltop Communist position when disaster struck.
Under a hail of machine gun, rifle, and grenade fire, Lt. Reem and his platoon assaulted the “well-concealed and strongly fortified enemy position.” After three unsuccessful attacks, each resulting in numerous Marine casualties, Reem regrouped his men and prepared for what would be their fourth and final assault.
Seconds later, a grenade landed amongst him and his squad leaders. Reem, in a fateful decision that would cost him his life, jumped on the grenade.
2nd Lt. Robert Dale Reem (June 24,1928 - November 6, 1950) in a photo taken before his deployment to Korea. (Photo credit: USMC Archives)
Absorbing the blast with his body, Reem was instantly killed. He was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for “gallantly giving his life for his country.”
Just days before his death, he had sent a letter to his wife, “I am getting mighty tired of chasing Reds up and down the hills of Korea. . . I’d like to come home and be with you, Donna.”
Receiving the news of her husband’s death, the young wife collapsed. “The first three days were like you don’t feel anything,” she later told a reporter. "The doctor gave me sleeping pills, and I slept most of the time I wasn’t crying.”
The Medal of Honor
Lt. Reem’s company commander, 1st Lt. Howard H. Harris, sent a letter to Reem’s grandfather explaining what had happened on November 6, 1950. Reem was “suffering from a very severe cold . . . but refused to go the Battalion Aid Station for fear he might be evacuated,” Harris revealed.
After launching an attack straight up what Harris described as "a mountain,” the Marines were stopped about fifty feet from the summit when “a large 'potato smasher’ type grenade" landed amongst them.
“I’m sure that his suffering was very brief,” Harris told the grandfather after describing what had happened. “Bob’s boys,” he continued, “were dazed for many days after his death, but in tribute to his brave action they carried on with the same fighting spirit. We retook the position . . .”
Dead Marines from 7th Marines, Lt. Reem’s regiment, in November 1950. (Photo credit: National Archives)
Tragically, over the next five weeks many of Lt. Reem’s men would be killed or wounded on their way to and at the Chosin Reservoir, one of the most brutal and costly battles of the Korean War.
Harris concluded his letter saying, “Hoping that this information can be of some value to you and that you will accept my deepest sympathies for the loss of your beloved grandson. He was a fine Marine, a credit to his country, and the fine Corps that we all love so well.”
On February 8, 1952, Mrs. Donna Reem was presented Lt. Reem's Medal of Honor at a ceremony in Washington, DC. It was a bittersweet moment. She was grateful for her husband’s recognition but later said in a magazine article, “I don’t care about the Medal of Honor. I just want Bob back.”
Donna Reem receives her husband's Medal of Honor from Under Secretary of the Navy Francis Whitehair (PC: AP)
Lieutenant Reem's Legacy
One of Reem’s nephews, Jack Seifert, and a distant cousin, Wendy Looker, have established the 2nd Lt. Robert Dale Reem Memorial Facebook page. In 2018 Wendy visited Korea as a guest of the Republic of Korea’s Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Fallen Heroes Program, which honors Korean War KIA’s and POW/MIA’s and their families.
The trip reiterated her strong calling to continue her distant cousin’s legacy of service to others. She now volunteers with the Hanover Young Marines, a youth education and service program for boys and girls, and even spent a weekend aboard the USS New Jersey with them.
“I started volunteering mostly so that I could ensure that they knew about the Korean War and so I could share in their community service and support their missions,” she said. “Being involved with the Young Marines. . . has renewed my faith in youth and humanity in general.”
The "Missing Man" table at the banquet held for families at the Heroes Remembered program, sponsored by the MPVA (PC: Ned Forney)
In a wonderful tribute and testament to the lasting legacy of 2nd Lt Robert Dale Reem, Wendy said, “He is giving me so much more than the desire to share his story. I have new extended family and friends. I have new faith in the future and new purpose. I wholeheartedly believe that a stunning young Marine has guided me on this new and exciting path.”
Postscript
Eleanor Coble, Reem’s younger sister, remarked years later about her brother, “He always wanted to join the Marines. He talked about it all the time.” Echoing her words, Donna said in a 1953 magazine article, “He promised me he wouldn’t do anything heroic, and he wouldn’t have done it for himself. But he always thought of his men.”
Donna Reem eventually remarried, had children, and died at the age of 90.
Top/Feature photo: 2nd Lt. Robert Reem and Donna Zemmerli at their wedding, April 9, 1949 at the United States Naval Academy Chapel (PC: Wendy Looker)
Thank you for your story. I’m Robert Reem’s great niece and I look forward to sharing this with my two children.
It’s great to hear from you, Jessica.
I’m glad you like the story about your great uncle, Lt. Reem. It has been an honor to learn more about him through your family members who have come to Korea. His story is incredible, and we owe him and your family so much.
It means a lot that you’ll be sharing this with your children one day. Thank you for that, and thank you for writing.
Hello Ned. Thanks for sharing this wonderful story. Next weekend, as part of the Honor Flight Network, I’m accompanying some 50 WW2, Korean War and Vietnam Veterans to Washington, DC to visit the memorials built in their honor. This will be my eighth trip with the Honor Flight…on a trip two years ago, at the Korean War Memorial, a young Korean child, probably 8-9 years old, approached three wheelchair-bound Korean War veterans. He shook hands with each of them, and said, “thank you for saving my country”. Very powerful.
Thanks for the blog.
Thanks for reading the blog and sharing these heartfelt comments, Will.
What a great experience to be part of the Honor Flights! The story about the Korean child is definitely powerful. We see that a lot here as well. The Koreans are very appreciative of what the veterans did for their country.
If you’d like to share some of the pictures of your trips, I’d love to write about the Honor Flight Network so people can learn more about it. Let me know if that interests you and thanks again.
I am in Korea now . Been here almost 17 years now and often wonder as I drive over the hills that shape the contours and terrain here just how many lives ended on those hills. I wonder how many dreams were furnished out of cherished memories for the soldiers and Marines that spilled blood and tears on that soil. I wonder how many young people of this country realize that the descendants of those fine warriors from 60-plus years ago are here today and ready to spill their blood to defend South Korea should she again become the battleground for freedom.
I wonder…
Thanks for these thoughtful comments, Michael. Being here in Korea, you know how rough the terrain is and how terrible it must have been to fight here.
We often have similar questions as we spend time in Korea.
Trying to keep the memories alive one story at a time.
Thanks again for reading and commenting.
Thank you for sharing this story Ned. I really believe that the Korean War would be lost to the dust bin of history without those few historians, writers, and veterans of the Korean War passing on their legacy. This kind of story is very human and shows when duty calls, above and beyond the call of duty, sometimes it means sacrificing ones life to save others. That sacrifice will keep the mission going to accomplish a goal larger than ones self.
Thanks for commenting, Doug. It’s important that these men and their families are never forgotten.
Hopefully these stories will help preserve their legacies of sacrifice and duty.
I was so touched and saddened to learn of his heroic actions while reading a book I received at Christmas, “Devotion,” by Adam Makos. I served aboard the (original) USS John F Kennedy, CV-67; one of my nephews graduated from the USAFA recently and is in flight training; another nephew is a USMC Officer, and yet another nephew just seperated from the Army Rangers after several deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan. Mr. Makos’s book is timeless for those of us who have served and witnessed the unparalleled heroism that make up the United States Armed Forces. I had to search out more info about Lt. Reem after reading of his death.
Thank you, sir, for your service. It’s obvious that your family has a military tradition.
I’m so glad you found the blog on Lt. Reem. As a former Marine infantry officer, I felt like I had a special connection with him and was honored to write this story.
If you’re on Facebook, please be sure to check out the Facebook page created in his memory.
Thanks again for reading and commenting.
When I was a Midshipman at USNA I lived in the Reem room. There are rooms throughout the midshipmen dormitory, Bancroft Hall, that are named for graduates who have received the MoH. They are identified with a large bronze plaque that has an image of the person and some text regarding the actions for which they received the medal. I must say that I never knew anymore about him than what was on that plaque. Very interesting to learn more.
Thanks for reading the post and sharing this story, Jim. Great to hear of someone who actually lived in the Reem room, and I’m glad that you were able to learn more about Lt. Reem through my blog.
Do you happen to have a picture of that plaque? If so, I’d love to see it. You could email it to me at ned@nedforney.com. Again, thank you.
Thanks for the poignant tribute to Lt. Reem. His Naval Academy class ring represents the Class of 1948 in the class ring display at the Naval Academy Museum.
Thanks for reading the post and commenting, Andy. This is good information to know. We hope to visit that museum one day.
Just curious- how do you know of Lt. Reem?
Another great tribute to a hero Ned.
Thank you, Travis. I appreciate your reading my blogs and commenting. We’re so glad that Lt. Reem’s incredible story is being shared with so many.
Thank you for the service and sacrifice of your family! From Korea
Thank you so much for reading the blog and commenting. It means a lot to hear from our Korean friends.