Born in Arkansas, the son of a WWI veteran, Reb joined the Army Air Corps straight out of high school so he wouldn't be drafted into the infantry.  After some time as a weapon's inspector, he was transferred to the 384th bomb group as a B-17 gunner.  While deployed to England, Reb and the 384th were sent to France and Germany for several combat missions.  During his final mission in September of 1943, Reb miraculously survived when a 20mm round hit him and he went down with his plane.  Now as a POW, Reb had to survive numerous surgeries and a grueling life in prison camps.  He eventually made it back to the US and was able to live a successful life as a journalist, husband and father.