John N. Reese Jr.

Providing covering fire, he helped break a fortified defence

John Noah Reese Jr. was born at Muskogee, Oklahoma, on 13 June 1923. He entered the United States Army from Pryor in December 1942. During the Second World War he served as a private first class in Company B, 148th Infantry Regiment, part of the 37th Infantry Division.

On 9 February 1945, during the battle for Manila, his platoon attacked the Paco railroad station. The station was strongly defended by Japanese troops with machine guns, artillery and fortified positions. Intense fire stopped the platoon's frontal advance before it reached the objective.

Reese and a fellow soldier moved ahead on their own initiative and took cover in a house closer to the station. From there they fired on defenders and on reinforcements trying to reach the gun positions. They then advanced still nearer, continuing to disrupt the defence despite the increasing fire directed at them.

Reese provided covering fire while his companion attacked a gun and a machine-gun position with grenades. Their actions helped prevent the fortified positions from stopping the entire advance. After prolonged fighting their ammunition ran low, and the two men began withdrawing, alternately covering one another.

Reese was killed while reloading his rifle. His posthumous Medal of Honor recognised his initiative, persistence and contribution to overcoming the station's defences. He was 21 years old.

His remains were returned to Oklahoma and buried at Fort Gibson National Cemetery. The Cherokee Nation has recognised him among its citizens who received the Medal of Honor, preserving his place in both the history of the battle and the community from which he came.