Charles Dyer Reasoner was born February 5, 1922 in Ingham County, Michigan, to Lorenzo Gale Reasoner and Margaret Dyer Reasoner. Lorenzo was a Sergeant in both World Wars. Charles grew up in Holt and attended Holt Schools and Everett High School. He was employed at Oldsmobile.

Charles married Charlotte Eloise Moore, to their union one daughter was born, Constance.

Reasoner was drafted into the United States Army in World War II on October 22, 1942 at age 20. Following his draft, Reasoner enlisted with the 32nd Division, 126th Infantry. He trained at Camp Wolter, Texas. In April 1943, Reasoner was sent to Leyte, Philippines, to join the Red Arrow Division. Leyte was the eighth largest island of the Philippines.

Leyte had been under the United States’ civil authority since 1901 and the northeast coast of the island was the site of the first major landing of the Allied Forces in the Philippines in WWII under General Douglas MacArthur.

In February 1945, Charlotte Reasoner received a telegram from the War Department stat that her husband Charles had been killed in action on December 15, 1944. Charles Reasoner was 22 years old. His father and brother were in active duty at the time of his death.

Following Reasoner’s death in action, the John Buck American Legion Post No. 238 of Holt rededicated its charter to honor Reasoner. The post was originally named for John H. Buck, a Delhi Township native who was killed in action in 1918 in Chateau Thierry, France, in World War I. Since 1945, the post has been known as the Holt American Legion Buck-Reasoner Post No. 238.

Reasoner’s remains returned to Holt following the war and he was finally laid to rest on September 25, 1948. The Buck-Reasoner Post No. 238 provided military honors for his services.

Charles Reasoner’s parents remained in the area. His father passed away in 1976, his mother in 1986. Charles’ wife Charlotte eventually remarried. She passed away in 2003 and their daughter Constance died in 1992.

Charles Reasoner was one of 18 Delhi Township natives who were killed in action in World War II.