Thomas James Reeves

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor (Posthumously) to Radio Electrician Thomas James Reeves, United States Navy, 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, Territory of Hawaii, by Japanese forces on 7 December 1941. After the mechanized ammunition hoists were put out of action in the U.S.S. CALIFORNIA (BB-44), Radio Electrician Reeves, on his own initiative, in a burning passageway, assisted in the maintenance of an ammunition supply by hand to the anti-aircraft guns until he was overcome by smoke and fire, which resulted in his death.