An American hero from Alabama is finally back home to be buried. Private First Class Noah Reeves, age 26, was killed in action in Germany on December 6, 1944. His body was not discovered until three years after the war.

According to the Department of Defense POW/MIA Office, “In late 1944, during World War II, Reeves served with Company F, 2nd Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, 8th Infantry Division in the European Theater. His battalion was engaged against heavily fortified German forces near the town of Vossenack in the Hürtgen Forest in Germany, when he was reported killed in action on December 6th. Shortly after the firefight, both sides ceased fighting along the Karl River Valley to remove their wounded and dead. A German officer handed over Reeves's identification card and pay book, certifying his death and capture by the Germans. Members of his unit were unable to recover his body from the Germans before fighting resumed. Private Reeves's body was reported missing after the war.

At the end of the war, the American Graves Registration Command (AGRC) was tasked with investigating and reclaiming American soldiers missing in Europe. They conducted several searches in the Hürtgen area between 1946 and 1950, but were unable to recover or identify Reeves' remains. He was declared unrecoverable in November 1951.”

Reeves' remains were identified through extensive DNA testing.

When Reeves' body arrives in Alabama, a joint honor guard from American Legion Local 25 in Moulton and Local 15 in Decatur will greet him on the runway. The hearse will be followed by a motorcade of veterans traveling from the Birmingham airport down Interstate 20 and then north on Interstate 65 to Moulton, Terry said.

“Take a few minutes, take your kids, go out and check out this event, honor Noah and see how many people are in that group and express their gratitude to someone who has done so much for us,” said Phil Terry, commander of the American Legion Chapter 15. He told WBRC.

Anyone is welcome to join today's march by American Legion Local 255 in Fultondale, which will line the Interstate 65 overpass at Exit 267 at Walker Chapel Road, the group said. The motorcade is scheduled to pass by between 5:30 and 6 p.m.

Mr. Reeves' funeral will be held at Lawrence Funeral Home on April 29th from 10am-4pm. All who wish to express condolences are welcome to attend. Graveside services will be held on Tuesday, April 30th at 2pm in Moulton Memory Gardens with Rev. Zach Terry officiating.

Funeral services will be conducted with military honors under the direction of Lawrence Funeral Home.

Austin Shipley is a staff writer for Yellow Hammer News.