Navy Federal Credit Union

Michael Reynolds attended Wake Forest College in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where he was a member of the college boxing team and a welterweight Golden Gloves champion. He then attended Southwest Seminary at Fort Worth, Texas, and was ordained a Baptist minister. During World War II he was commissioned a U.S. Army chaplain and served in combat with the 24th Infantry Division. He remained in military service after the war, serving in the Korean War, where he earned a Silver Star. Upon his return home, he was assigned as a chaplain to the Tennessee Military District, and traveled the state extensively to recruit chaplains and to advise local ministers how they could support men and women in service. After retiring from miliary service as a lieutenant colonel, he served as pastor of Pauline Baptist Church in Johnson County, North Carolina, and was a school teacher at Benson Elementary School at the time of his death in 1970.

Awards Received

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Captain (Chaplain’s Corps)

    Regiment:

    31s Infantry Regiment

    Division:

    7th Infantry Division

    Action Date:

    November 30 – December 1, 1950

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain (Chaplain’s Corps) Michael Elverne Reynolds, United States Army, for gallantry in action against the enemy while serving as a Chaplain with the 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, in action near Koto-ri, North Korea, on the night of 30 November 1950 to 1 December 1950. Chaplain Reynolds was at the front with his unit when his driver was wounded. He succeeded is evacuated his driver, and also in evacuating several other wounded men back to safety. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by Chaplain Reynolds, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.