Thomas J. Reeves

Infobox Military Person
name=Thomas James Reeves
born= birth date|1895|12|9
died= death date and age|1941|12|7|1895|12|9
placeofbirth=Thomaston, Connecticut
placeofdeath=KIA at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
placeofburial=


caption=Chief Radioman Thomas J. Reeves
nickname=
allegiance=flag|United States of America
branch=
serviceyears=1917 – 1919 (Navy Reserve) 1920 – 1941 (Navy)
rank=Chief Petty Officer (Chief Radioman)
commands=
unit=USS "California" (BB-44)
battles=Attack on Pearl Harbor
awards=Medal of Honor
laterwork=

Thomas James Reeves, born in Thomaston, Connecticut, 9 December 1895, was a US Navy radioman who became the namesake of the destroyer escort USS "Reeves". Reeves was killed during the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor and was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

Military service

He enlisted in the United States Naval Reserve as Electrician third class on 20 July 1917. Released from duty 21 July 1919, he was recalled to active duty and was transferred to the regular Navy 16 April 1920 and served until discharged 21 August 1921. On 12 October 1921 he re-enlisted in the Navy making it his career.

Advanced through the rates to chief radioman, Reeves was serving in the battleship "California" (BB-44) when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, 7 December 1941. During that attack the mechanized ammunition hoists in the battleship were put out of commission. Reeves "... on his own initiative, in a burning passageway, assisted in the maintenance of an ammunition supply by hand to the antiaircraft guns until he was overcome by smoke and fire which resulted in his death." For his distinguished conduct, RMC Reeves was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

Namesake

In 1943, the destroyer escort USS "Reeves" (DE-156) was named in his honor.

Medal of Honor citation

Citation:

:For distinguished conduct in the line of his profession, extraordinary courage and disregard of his own safety during the attack on the Fleet in Pearl Harbor, by Japanese forces on 7 December 1941. After the mechanized ammunition hoists were put out of action in the U.S.S. California, Reeves, on his own initiative, in a burning passageway, assisted in the maintenance of an ammunition supply by hand to the antiaircraft guns until he was overcome by smoke and fire, which resulted in his death.

ee also

*List of Medal of Honor recipients

References

:DANFS
* [http://www.cmohs.org/ Congressional Medal of Honor Society]

External links

*findagrave|7734549 Retrieved on 2007-12-13