Michaels, Reese

Description

Reese Thomas Michaels was the adopted son of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur J. Michaels. He attended La Salle Military Academy. In Rye his family lived on Manursing Island.

Reese enlisted and served in the U.S. Army during World War II.

Confirmation from the War Department has been received by Mr. and Mrs. Arthur J. Michaels of Manursing Island that their adopted son, Reese Thomas Michaels, is missing in action over the Bastogne area. Reese is twenty-one years old and is attached to Co. F. , 506 Parachute Infantry. He enlisted two and one-half years ago and received his training at Fort Benning, Ga. Prior to his enlistment, he attended La Salle Military Academy. George Michaels, another son, is with the U. S. Air Forces overseas.

PAGE TEN THE RYE CHRONICLE Friday, April 13, 1945


The newspaper article is the only evidence we can find on this veteran and his brother George. Neither brothers are found in any census records (1930 and 1940) where their foster father Arthur J. Michaels is found. They are also not mentioned in his obituary.

Below is a Google AI generated response to the fate of Reese Michaels and has not been confirmed

Pvt. Reese Thomas Michaels was officially listed as killed in action on January 10, 1945, in Belgium during the Battle of the Bulge. He was 21 years old.
Initially reported missing in action over the Bastogne area, his status was later changed to killed in action. His name is recorded on the Wall of the Missing at the Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery, Hombourg, Belgium, indicating that his remains were not recovered or identified at the time.
He served with Company F, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, which was heavily engaged in holding the besieged town of Bastogne from December 19, 1944, to January 13, 1945, under brutal winter conditions

After an extensive search we can not find any information on either brother or their relationship to Rye, NY.