Army Pfc. John Reese, Cherokee, was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on Oct. 19, 1945, for heroic actions in the Philippines during World War II. Reese and a fellow soldier separated from their platoon and held off over one hundred approaching Japanese at the Paco Railroad Station. At times, Reese purposely drew enemy fire on himself to provide his comrade with the opportunity to fire unobstructed. Reese was killed while attempting to return to the American line when he ran out of ammunition. Department of Veterans Affairs photo