John L. Pierce

John Leonard Pierce was born on April 25, 1895, in Dallas, Texas, as the son of lawyer, Frank Cushman Pierce and his wife, Isabella. Pierce attended the West Texas Military Academy in San Antonio, Texas, and subsequently Texas A&M University and then joined the Army in June 1917. Subsequently served during World War I in France. After war, Pierce served with 8th Infantry Division within Occupation forces in Koblenz, Germany.^[1]

After return to the United States, Pierce stayed in the Army and was interested in mobile warfare and the development of armor.

At the beginning of World War II, Pierce served as a Deputy Chief of Staff of the 3rd Armored Division under command of Major general Alvan C. Gillem. One year later, Pierce was transferred to the II Armored Corps (later redesignated as the XVIII Airborne Corps), where he served as Chief of Staff.

In June 1943, Pierce was promoted to the rank of brigadier general and was appointed a Chief of Staff of Armored Command. He stayed in this capacity until September 1944, when he was transferred to Camp Chaffee in Arkansas, where he assumed command of 16th Armored Division. He replaced major general Douglass T. Greene in this capacity.^[2]

Pierce arrived with his 16th Armored Division in Europe in February 1945 and participated in combats in Germany and Czechoslovakia. Pierce commanded the division during the liberation of Pilsen.

For his service during World War II, general Pierce was awarded with Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster by the government of the United States and with Order of the White Lion and with War Cross by the government of the Czechoslovakia for his merits during liberation of Western Bohemia.

Pierce was subsequently transferred back to the United States, where he was appointed the President of the Secretary of War's Discharge Review Board. He served in this capacity until 1946, when he retired from the Army.^[3]

Brigadier general John Leonard Pierce died at the age of 63 at his home in San Antonio, Texas, and is buried at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery together with his wife, Kate Bodine Pierce (1895 - 1988).^[4]

Here is Brigadier general Pierce´s ribbon bar:

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  John L. Pierce as a Captain, with his newborn daughter, Isabel.
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  Brigadier General John L. Pierce and his daughter, Isabel, during her swearing-in ceremony for WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service).
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  Major General John W. Leonard (9th Armored Div.), Colonel Albert Kelly and Brigadier General John L. Pierce (16th Armored Div.) on the wartime photo.
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  Brigadier General John L. Pierce, welcoming General George S. Patton at the Pilsen airport, May 1945.