World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
Orel A. Pierson
Branch of Service
U.S. Merchant Marine
Hometown
San Francisco, California
Honored By
James Stephens
BEFORE THE WAR STARTED HE WAS THE SKIPPER OF THE MERCHANT MARINE SHIP SS PRESIDENT HARRISON . HE RAN THE SHIP AGROUND IN CHINA TO PREVENT THE JAPANESE FROM USING HER. SINCE HE WAS A U.S. NAVY RESERVE OFFICER, THE JAPANESE PUT HIM IN A MILITARY PRISONER OF WAR CAMP. HELD IN ZENTSUJI, JAPAN.