‘Thank you, brother’: WWII soldier lay in state 80 years after his death

MOULTON, Ala. (WHNT) — A World War II soldier received a hero’s service in Moulton on Monday.

Private First Class Noah Reeves gave his life to his country in WWII, and for the first time in 80 years, his remains will be brought home and laid to rest.

Reeves, a native of Muck City in Lawrence County, volunteered to serve his county in the 1940s. He was killed in action in the Battle of Hurtgen Forrest in 1944.

For many years, he was listed as missing in action, but after DNA testing, his remains were identified, giving his community another opportunity to remember his service.

Reeves was flown home last Thursday. More than a thousand people watched his procession make the trip from Birmingham to Moulton. American Legion Post Commander Phil Terry said he was honored to see the outpouring of support.

“As veterans, we had tissues in the van with us and used almost the whole box,” Terry said. “We just broke down. It just meant so much to honor him, and those people cared about a veteran.”

Reeves lay in state in Moulton. Terry said he is glad that he and many others had the opportunity to honor Reeves on Monday.

“Noah is my brother, my brother in arms, always will be,” Terry said. “That’s the way we feel about each other. I’ve got your back. That’s what it means.”

Members of American Legion Posts 15, 25, 165, and 237, Alabama Post 101, the Patriot Guard, Alabama Patriot Riders, Lawrence County ROTC, and the U.S. Army stood in an honor watch over Reeves’ casket.

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