Francis Junior Pierce was born 7 Dec 1924 at Earlville, Indiana. He grew up in Delaware County, Iowa. On his 17^th birthday, the day Pearl Harbor was attacked, he enlisted in the Navy. After his training at Great Lakes Training Center in Illinois, he trained to become a hospital corpsman and then joined the Marine Corps combat infantry training.

Pierce was assigned to the 4^th Marine Division where he participated in numerous military campaigns including Saipan and Tinian. During Iwo Jima, he helped in caring for wounded Marines and became one of four corpsman to receive the Medal during the battle, although he was initially awarded the Navy Cross.

In December, 1945, he was discharged from the Navy. After a brief stay in his hometown of Earlville, Indiana, he moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan. There, he married a young woman named Lorraine who he had been communicating with during the war and he joined the local police department.

In 1948, he was informed that his Navy Cross was being upgraded to the Medal of Honor. He was presented with the medal in a White House Rose Garden ceremony by President Truman.

In civilian life, Pierce would have two son with his wife, Lorraine. After she died, he married Madelyn Mellema and had two daughters. He served a long, distinctive career in the police carrying out many duties such as being the head of the vice squad and being a bomb disposal expert. He would eventually become deputy of chief in 1972. Francis Pierce died of cancer in 1986.

Francis Junior Pierce
Born: 7 Dec 1924, Earlville, Indiana
Died: 1986, Grand Rapids, Michigan

Allegiance: U. S. Navy
Years of Service: 1941-1945
Rank: Pharmacist’s Mate First Class
Unit: 4^th Marine Division
Battles/wars: World War II
Awards: Medal of Honor, Silver Star
Other Work: Police Officer

"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while attached to the 2^nd Battalion, 24^th Marines, 4^th Marine Division, during the Iwo Jima campaign, 15 and 16, March 1945. Almost continuously under fire while carrying out the most dangerous volunteer assignments, Pierce gained valuable knowledge of the terrain and disposition of troops. Caught in heavy enemy rifle and machine gun fire which wounded a corpsman and 2 of the 8 stretcher bearers who were carrying 2 wounded marines to a forward aid station on 15 March, Pierce quickly took charge of the party, carried the newly wounded men to a sheltered position, and rendered first aid. After directin the evacuation of 3 of the casualties, he stood in the open to draw the enemy’s fire and, with his weapon blasting, enabled the litter bearers to reach cover. Turning his attention to the other 2 casualties he was attempting to stop the profuse bleeding of 1 man when a Japanese fired from a cave less that 20 years away and wounded his patient again. Risking his own life to save the patient, Pierce deliberately exposed himself to draw the attacker from the cave and destroyed him with the last of his ammunition. Then lifting the wounded man to his back, he advanced unarmed through deathly rifle fire across 200 feet of open terrain. Despite exhaustion and in the face of warnings against such a suicidal mission, he again traversed the same fire-swept path to rescue the remaining marine. On the following morning, he led a combat patrol to the sniper nest and while aiding a stricken Marine, was seriously wounded. Refusing the aid for himself, he directed treatment for the casualty, at the same time maintaining protective fire for his comrades. Completely fearless, completely devoted to the care of his patients, Pierce inspired the entire battalion. His valor in the face of extreme peril sustains and enhances the fines traditions of the U. S. Naval Service."