John Reese is the alias of a former U.S. Army Green Beret and CIA field officer who works with Harold Finch to stop future crimes using numbers generated by The Machine. His real last name is unknown, but military records indicate that John is his real first name. Reese operates under a series of aliases and cover identities, including John Rooney, John Warren, John Anderson, and two law-enforcement personas created when he was able to acquire genuine badges. He is also known as The Man in the Suit or guy in the suit by law enforcement and criminals pursuing him.It is mentioned that Reese's father died when he was still young, who was also an Army soldier. ( The Devil's Share ) At some point later on, Reese was forced between choosing jail or entering the military because of a violent fight he was involved in. He opted for the military, and entered the Army. ( Liberty )John H. --s, the name on his military records, rose to the rank of U.S. Army Sergeant First Class, and served as a Green Beret. He is listed by the Army as M.I.A. and most of his military history is labeled as REDACTED in The Machine's databases. ( Title Sequence ) His military personnel file confirms he is from Puyallup, Washington and enlisted at Fort Lewis, Washington. His social security number is 380-00-0050. ( Many Happy Returns )According to the Machine, Reese joined the Army on January 15, 1993. Over the next nine years, he served four short tours and one long tour of duty, including service in Afghanistan. He appears to have been promoted to the rank of Sergeant on September 15, 1998. ( Title Sequence ) 1x01 LearningAboutAttackReese leaves the Army in 2001, prior to a vacation in Mexico with his girlfriend of six months, Jessica Arndt. As the vacation is extended beyond the weekend, Reese surprises Jessica with the news. Moments later, the two witness a live television report about the attacks on the World Trade Center, and Reese knows his service is far from over. ( Pilot )Jessica knew Reese as John, yet it is not yet known what last name he went by during their relationship. ( Mission Creep ) However, photographs taken of him in uniform and the timeline of events leading him to adopt the alias John Reese suggest she knew his real name.Reese officially ended his service in the military on November 20, 2002. He was discharged as a Sergeant First Class. ( Title Sequence )At some point between 2002 and 2006, Reese joins the CIA.On February 12, 2006, Reese runs into his former girlfriend Jessica at the airport, and he tells her that he has found a new, secretive job. She tells him that she is engaged to a man named Peter Arndt, though she would wait for him if he told her to. After a silence, she turns and leaves. Moments later, Reese whispers, wait for me. Please. ( Mission Creep )Some time later, Reese then first meets with his partner Kara Stanton in Hungary to interrogate two men about the whereabouts of Alim Nazir. This is presumably his first CIA mission.Stanton promptly murders them, knowing that they helped Nazir flee the country after a hefty bribe. Reese, visibly shocked, is told to dispose of the gun and bodies. Stanton reminds him that he doesn't have any old friends, including Jessica, whom Stanton has photos of from the airport. Afterward, she assigns him the cover name 'Reese'. ( Foe )In Prague, Reese and Stanton kill an American traitor selling drone blueprints to two Chinese nationals, and kill the nationals as well. When Kara cracks a joke, Reese ignores it and she tells him to lighten up. She warns him that he'll have to accept the fact that he's a killer and that he might as well learn to love his work. ( Prisoner's Dilemma )Reese, Stanton, and their boss Mark Snow are operating illegally in New York City, holding a government employee captive after he tries to sell some software to the Chinese. When Reese is given permission to get some R&R, Stanton follows him to a bar and finds him meeting with Jessica's husband Peter. She gives him a lecture, telling him that they're no longer like other people, and Reese reluctantly leaves with her before Jessica can spot them. ( Blue Code )Reese and Stanton go to a bar in Paris and target a couple. They have orders to kill the couple and Reese wonders why, but Kara isn't interested. As they watch the couple flirt, Kara suggests that Reese might play along with their own cover. Once the bar clears out, Kara shoots out the camera and Reese goes over to kill their targets. After killing the couple, the two go back to their apartment and clean out any traces of their presence. Kara tells Reese that they can take a break. However, when he says he's fine, Kara draws a gun on him and tells him to choose between being a boy scout or a killer. She reminds him that he chose that life. Reese then slams her into a wall and says that he loves his work, and they kiss. ( Prisoner's Dilemma )Reese and Stanton are in T Show less «