World War II Honoree

Marvin E. Pierrard

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Price County, Wisconsin

Honored By

Ralph Bozorth

WAS ABOARD THE LIBERTY SHIP SS JEAN NICOLLET WHICH WAS STEAMING ALONE IN THE INDIAN OCEAN LOADED WITH A CARGO OF WAR MATERIALS FOR THE CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATRE OF WAR. THIS SHIP HAD A 41-MAN CREW, PLUS 28-ARMED GUARD, 30 PASSENGERS AND ONE ARMY MEDIC. A JAPANESE SUBMARINE TORPEDOED THE SHIP ON JULY 2, 1944 OFF CEYLON AND ALL ABOARD THE SHIP SURVIVED THE EXPLOSION. SOON AFTER THE SHIP WAS ABANDONED, THE JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-8 SURFACED AND USED A POWERFUL SEARCHLIGHT TO LOCATE THE BOATS AND RAFTS. THE SURVIVORS WERE THREATENED WITH MACHINE GUNS AND ORDERED TO COME ALONGSIDE BY A JAPANESE SOLDIER SPEAKING PERFECT ENGLISH. FIVE MEN, WHO WERE ON THE SIDE AWAY FROM THE SUB, WERE NOT DISCOVERED AND WERE THE ONLY ONES WHO DID NOT BOARD THE SUB. ONCE ONBOARD THE JAPANESE SUBMARINE 95 AMERICAN MEN, WITH THEIR HANDS TIED BEHIND THEIR BACKS, WERE FORCED TO SIT ON DECK. JAPANESE SAILORS MASSACRED 65 MEN WITH BAYONETS AND RIFLE BUTTS. THIRTY SURVIVORS WERE STILL ON DECK WITH THEIR HANDS TIED WHEN A BRITISH PLANE APPEARED. THE SUB CRASH DIVED, WASHING THE SURVIVORS INTO THE SEA. HE WAS ONE OF 77 MEN WHO WERE MASSACRED. HE WAS POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART MEDAL.