Kelsie Loomis Reaves (1911 - 1994)

Born 24 Nov 1911 in Arkansas, United States

Husband of Mary Lou (Moore) Reaves — married Oct 1937 in Georgia, United States

Died 13 Jul 1994 at age 82 in Largo, Pinellas, Florida, United States

Biography

Lt. Col. Kelsie Reaves served in the United States Army in World War II
Service started: 12 Jun 1937
Unit(s): 66th Div.
Service ended: service ended as 1946

Major General Kelsie Reaves served in the United States Army in the Korean War
Service started: 1952
Unit(s): 14th Inf. Reg., 25th Div.
Service ended: service ended 1953

Kelsie Loomis Reaves, Major General, United States Army

Kelsie Loomis Reaves was born in Warren, Arkansas on November 24, 1911 and later moved to Bartow, Florida where he graduated from Summerlin Institute in 1933. He subsequently received an appointment to the United States Military Academy, West Point, New York where he graduated in the Class of 1937. After commissioning as a Second Lieutenant, Infantry he served in the Philippines and United States.

During the early part of World War II he commanded a Task Force in Greenland. In 1943 he was an assigned as an instructor at the Army Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia preparing officers for combat duty. By 1944 he was transferred to the 66th Division serving in combat in the European Theatre returning to the United States in 1946. He was then assigned as the Staff Operations Officer for Joint Task Force 7 conducting atomic tests at Eniwetok Atoll. After nuclear testing operations ceased he was appointed to the faculty at the United States Military Academy at West Point through 1952.

He commanded the 14th Infantry Regiment, 25th Division during the Korean War. After the war he was promoted to Brigadier General and served on the General Staff assigned to NATO in Paris, France. In 1963 he was given command of the 3rd Armored Division in Germany after which he was appointed as Deputy Director, Joint Staff, Joint Chiefs of Staff in Washington, D.C.

In 1965 Reaves was promoted to Major General and assumed command of Fort Polk, Louisiana and by 1966 commanded the 6th Division. In 1968 he returned to the Pentagon in the capacity of Vice Director, Joint Staff, Joint Chiefs of Staff until retiring from the Army in 1969.

Major General Kelsie Reaves retired to Largo, Florida as a businessman, and Vice President of Sun State Builders. Included among his many decorations and awards are the Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, American Defense Medal, American Campaign Medal, European Africa Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal-Korea, French Croix de Guerre, Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, and Combat Infantry Badge.

He passed away on July 13, 1994 and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Research Notes

Military ranking progression was taken from the following websites; WW2 -https://www.sonsoflibertymuseum.org/66th-infantry-division-ww2.cfm Korean - https://www.tropiclightning.football/the-long-gray-line More research should follow for exact timing of his promotions. Biography was taken from FG. Corroborated by information found in Obituary.

Sources

• Birth: "Arkansas, Birth Certificates, 1914-1922"
  Arkansas Department of Vital Records; Little Rock, Arkansas; Birth Certificates; Year: 1911; Certificate Number: 5573
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 61774 #829192 (accessed 25 March 2024)
  Kelsie Loomis Reaves born on 24 Nov 1911, son of Henry Jefferson Reaves & Lizzie Loomis, in Banks, Bradley, Arkansas, USA.

• Obituary: "U.S., Newspapers.com™ Obituary Index, 1800s-current"
  Tampa Bay Times; Publication Date: 15 Jul 1994; Publication Place: St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; URL: https://www.newspapers.com/image/324037718/?article=8b7a53c8-38fc-4d1a-9b25-37dad03dff1d&focus=0.18377121,0.22224376,0.34329256,0.36417472&xid=3355
  Ancestry Record 61843 #604660741 (accessed 25 March 2024)
  Name: Kelsie Loomis Reaves; Gender: Male; Death Age: 82; Birth Date: abt 1912; Birth Place: Warren, Bradley, Arkansas, USA; Residence Place: Largo, Pinellas, Florida, USA; Death Date: 1994; Obituary Date: 15 Jul 1994; Obituary Place: St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Newspaper Title: Tampa Bay Times; Spouse: Mary Louise; Child: Elizabeth Reaves Wanous Mary Joanne Reaves.

• Memorial: Find a Grave (has image)
  Find A Grave: Memorial #29656868 (accessed 25 March 2024)
  Memorial page for MG Kelsie Loomis Reaves (24 Nov 1911-13 Jul 1994), citing Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, USA (plot: Sect 15C, Site 742); Maintained by Steve Jones (contributor 46923441).