World War II Honoree

Dorothy S. Harris Pierson

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Somerville, Ohio

Honored By

Deanna Daniels

Relationship

Niece

SERVED FROM 21 DECEMBER 1942 TO 23 JANUARY 1946. SHE WAS FIRST WOMAN IN BUTLER COUNTY TO BE INDUCTED INTO THE U.S. NAVY RESERVE. SHE ORIENTED AT MT HOLYOKE, SOUTH HADLEY, THEN TRAINED AT SMITH COLLEGE, NORTH HAMPTON, MASSACHUSETTS AND SERVED AT CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA SIXTH NAVAL HEADQUARTERS. SHE WAS IN NAVIGATIONAL INFORMATION. THEY PLOTTED MINE FIELDS, SWEPT CHANNELS, BUOYS AND OTHER HAZARDS. THEY PLOTTED LOCATIONS OF ENEMY-LAID HAZARDS FOR U.S. FORCES. THEY PLOTTED THE LOCATIONS OF HAZARDS ALL ALONG THE EUROPEAN SHORELINE, INCLUDING NORMANDY DURING THE DAYS LEADING UP TO D-DAY. THEY CHARTED THE SEABOARD ALL ALONG THE ATLANTIC. SKIPPERS WEREN'T GIVEN CLEARANCE UNTIL THEY WERE CLEARED THROUGH THEIR OFFICE.