World War II Honoree

James Foote Pierson

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Placerville, California

Honored By

David Pierson

Relationship

Son

STAFF SERGEANT. ENTERED SERVICE 1942. TRAINED AT MONTEREY PRESIDIO BOOT CAMP, MONTEREY CALIFORNIA; MCCLELLAND FIELD CALIFORNIA; HILL FIELD OGDEN UTAH; PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA. JOINED THE 393RD SERVICE SQUADRON IN RAPID CITY, SOUTH DAKOTA. REPAIRED B-17 AIRCRAFT IN BISMARCK ND WORKED ON PROPELLERS AND LANDING GEAR. WENT TO CAMP STONEMAN, WALNUT CREEK CALIFORNIA TO SHIP OUT FOR OVERSEAS DUTY AT MELBOURNE AND TOWNSVILLE AUSTRALIA. WORKED ON INSTALLING LARGER GAS TANKS FOR THE B-17 SO THEY COULD FLY FARTHER NORTH. TRAVELED BY SHIP TO HOLLANDIA, NEW GUINEA WHERE A BATTLE WITH JAPAN WAS FOUGHT UNDER GENERAL MACARTHUR IN LEYTE, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. SERVED HIS COUNTRY UNTIL THE END OF THE WAR IN 1945 AND WAS RELEASED ON DECEMBER 31, 1945 AT CAMP BEALE CALIFORNIA.