Thomas James Reeves

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

Thomas James Reeves
Chief Radioman Thomas J. Reeves
Born	(1895-12-09)December 9, 1895 Thomaston, Connecticut
Died	December 7, 1941(1941-12-07) (aged 45) Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii
Place of burial	National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, Hawaii
Allegiance	United States of America
Branch	United States Navy Reserve United States Navy
Years of service	1917 – 1919 (Navy Reserve) 1920 – 1941 (Navy)
Rank	Chief Radioman
Unit	USS California (BB-44)
Battles / wars	World War II Attack on Pearl Harbor  †
Awards	Medal of Honor

Military service

Thomas Reeves enlisted in the United States Naval Reserve as Electrician third class on July 20, 1917. Released from duty July 21, 1919, he was recalled to active duty and was transferred to the regular Navy April 16, 1920 and served until discharged August 21, 1921. On October 12, 1921, he re-enlisted in the Navy making it his career, and advanced through the rates to the warrant officer rank of chief radioman.^[1]

Reeves was serving aboard the battleship USS California (BB-44) when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, December 7, 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 posthumously received 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.

See also

• Biography portal

• List of Medal of Honor recipients