Paul J. Reis was born on December 9, 1919 in Belleville, St. Clair County, Illinois. He attended the University of Dayton.

Capt. Reis was piloting a 74th Fighter Squadron 23rd Fighter Group P-51C Mustang on a mission from Kanchow to Nanking when his aircraft failed to return to base. He was killed in action on December 25, 1944 over China.

According to Luther C. Kissick's "History of the 74th Fighter Squadron", "On Christmas day, the 74th Squadron flew one of itsmost outstanding missions, again to Nanking to attack another large railroad ferry and sweep Ming Ku Kung and Tai Chaio Chan airfields. Major "Phil" Chapman led fourteen pilots and they reported damage and destruction with photographic coverage of thirty-four enemy aircraft, as well as, sinking the large railroad ferry and a large floating dock. One casualty resulted, Captain Reis, due to circumstances unknown."

CPT Reis was one of over 2000 Americans who lost their lives defending China from their Japanese invaders from 1941-1945. He is commemorated on the The Monument to the Aviation Martyrs in the War of Resistance Against Japan in Nanjing, China.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com