Doughboy MIA For February 2025: Private Edward Reese

Edward Reese was born on May 14^th, 1889, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Little is known about his civilian life. He was an unemployed candy maker at the time of his draft registration. Edward was inducted into military service on April 8^th, 1918, in Philadelphia and assigned to the 305th Sanitary Train at Camp Lee, Virginia. Later, he was transferred to the Medical Detachment of the 319th Infantry, 80th Division, and sailed for France in May 1918.

Private Reese was killed by an enemy shell during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. Captain H.W. Wade, the battalion surgeon, provided an eyewitness account for the 80th Division records:

“Private Reese was killed about 2 P.M. October 10th, 1918. Was caused by shell explosion and he died instantly. The place of occurrence was the Bois des Ogons, about 1 ¼ kilometers north of Nantillois, France. His grave location is unknown.”

In a letter to Private Reese’s mother, Captain Wade described his bravery at the front:

“He was killed in action about 2 P.M. October 10th, 1918 near Nantillois. I was not with him at this time, but three of his comrades in the Medical Corps were near him. He was killed outright and had to be buried there. He met his death just as we were being relieved after 17 days of continuous service at the front. It was my true pleasure to have known him and know he was a hero in every sense of the term. His work in action was of such conspicuous notice that it was brought to my attention repeatedly by the captain of the company he was attached to. Captain Jenkins and I have already recommended him for conspicuous bravery in action, although he will not be here to receive it. I knew him as one of my best men, always cheerful, doing his duty, a perfect gentleman, faithful and loyal to his country, and an honor to his people.”

Chaplain John Van Horn of the 11th Infantry reported that Private Reese had been buried on a ridge at the edge of Bois des Ogons, approximately 1 ½ miles north of Nantillois. However, a search of the area failed to locate his grave. In 1924, the Graves Registration Service contacted Chaplain Van Horn for more information regarding the burial. He replied:

“The body of Private Reese was not badly mutilated as I recall it. I remember he was lying head downward in a shell hole as if he had been administering to the needs of other wounded men when a shell landed nearby and killed them all. The bodies in this vicinity were among the first to be moved to other cemeteries, which I have no definite information of other than seeing truckloads of bodies being gathered as I was passing by at a later date.”

Around the same time, the Graves Registration Service contacted Private Reese’s father, requesting a dental chart and asking whether his son had carried a New Testament with the name “J.A. Tappen” inside. The Graves Registration Service was likely trying to connect Private Reese to an unknown soldier found with this book. The family provided the dental chart, and Henry Reese responded regarding the testament:

“You ask about a testament with the name ‘J.A. Tappen’ in it. Edward carried the regulation Y.M.C.A. testament with his name and address in it. This book was returned to us by a Soldier who had picked it up on the battlefield. The name ‘J.A. Tappen’ is utterly unfamiliar to me, and I do not think the testament you mention has any connection to my son.”

By March 1924, a thorough search of the reported burial site failed to uncover Private Reese’s remains or any other unidentified soldier. His dental chart was compared against all unknown soldiers at the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery, but no match was found. No further attempts were made to locate or identify him.

Private Reese is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing at the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery in Romagne-sous-Montfaucon, France. There is no definitive evidence to confirm whether he was ever recovered and buried among the unknowns. Those who served alongside him spoke highly of him, writing: “He was well-liked by every man with whom he came in contact, and all the officers, both medical and company, are full of praise for him. I am proud to have known him and associated with him in his duty, for he was a man.” In his honor, a cenotaph was placed in Laurel Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia.

Would you like to be involved with solving the case of Private Edward Reese, and all the other Americans still in MIA status from World War I? You can! Click here to make a tax-deductible donation to our non-profit organization today, and help us bring them home! Help us do the best job possible and give today, with our thanks.  Remember: A man is only missing if he is forgotten.