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First Name: Thomas

Last Name: Reeves

Birthplace: Thomaston, CT, USA

Gender: Male

Branch: Navy (present)

Rating: Radioman Chief Petty Officer

Middle Name: James



Date of Birth: 09 December 1895

Date of Death: 07 December 1941

Rank or Rate: Chief Petty Officer

Years Served: 1917-19 (Navy Reserve), 1920-41 (Navy)
Thomas James Reeves

   
Engagements:
•  World War II (1941 - 1945)

Biography:

Thomas James Reeves

Chief Radioman, U.S. Navy

Medal of Honor Recipient

World War II

Chief Radioman Thomas James Reeves (9 December 1895 - 7 December 1941) was a U.S. Navy radioman who was posthumously awarded the U.S. military's award for valor, the Medal of Honor, for his heroic actions during the 7 December 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor.

Thomas James Reeves was born on 9 December 1895 in Thomaston, CT. He enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve as Electrician Third Class on 20 July 1917. Released from duty on 21 July 1919, he was recalled to active duty and was transferred to the regular Navy on 16 April 1920 and served until discharged on 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 USS California (BB-44) when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on 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 heroic conduct, CRM Reeves was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

Medal of Honor

Rank and organization: Radio Electrician (Warrant Officer) U.S. Navy.

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.

Death and Burial

Chief Radioman Thomas James Reeves died of injuries he incurred in action on 7 December 1941. He is buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Honolulu County, HI, in Section A, Grave 884.



Honoree ID: 1613   Created by: MHOH

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