Thomas J. Reeves

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Thomas James Reeves
9 December 1895 – 7 December 1941
Chief Radioman Thomas J. Reeves
Place of birth	Thomaston, Connecticut
Place of death	KIA at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
Allegiance	United States Navy Reserve United States Navy
Years of service	1917 – 1919 (Navy Reserve) 1920 – 1941 (Navy)
Rank	Chief Petty Officer (Chief Radioman)
Unit	USS California (BB-44)
Battles/wars	Attack on Pearl Harbor
Awards	Medal of Honor

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.

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.

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