| − | Reece was born on a farm in rural Eastern Tennessee on December 22, 1889 to Sarah Maples and John Isaac Reece, being one of thirteen children. He was named after General Brazilla Carroll McBride (who served in the [[War of 1812]]), though never went by his first name.<ref name=tennesseeencyclopedia>Rogers, Michael (October 8, 2017). [https://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/entries/brazilla-carroll-reece/ Brazilla Carroll Reece]. ''Tennessee Encyclopedia''. Retrieved April 26, 2021.</ref> | + | Reece was born on a farm in rural Eastern Tennessee on December 22, 1889, one of thirteen children of John Isaac Reece (1854-1918) and the former Sarah Emmaline Maples (1859-1943). He was named after General Brazilla Carroll McBride (who served in the [[War of 1812]]), though Reece did not use his first name but the initial "B."<ref name=tennesseeencyclopedia>Rogers, Michael (October 8, 2017). [https://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/entries/brazilla-carroll-reece/ Brazilla Carroll Reece]. ''Tennessee Encyclopedia''. Retrieved April 26, 2021.</ref> |
| − | Reece attended Carson-Newman College, where he participated in [[basketball]] and [[football]] in addition to being the [[valedictorian]] of the 1914 class. He served in the [[United States Army]] during [[World War I]], enlisting with the [[American Expeditionary Forces]]. Reece received several decorated awards for his military service, including the [[Purple Heart]]. | + | Reece attended the [[Southern Baptist]]-affiliated Carson-Newman College, where he participated in [[basketball]] and [[football]] in addition to being the [[valedictorian]] of the 1914 class. He served in the [[United States Army]] during [[World War I]], enlisting with the [[American Expeditionary Forces]]. Reece received several decorated awards for his military service, including the [[Purple Heart]]. |