World War II Honoree

Everett John Pierce

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

San Francisco, California

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Sergeant. On November 17, 1943, he was inducted into the United States Marine Corps from California. His boot camp training took place with the Eighth Recruit Battalion, Training Regiment; Marine Corps Base in San Diego, California. After completing Boot Camp, he was selected to attend Tank training, at the Fleet Marine Force Training Center, Camp Elliott Marine Corps Base in San Diego. Served as a tank crew member with the Fifth Marine Division in the Western Pacific Theater of Operations, assigned to Alpha Company and Fifth Tank Battalion. His division participated in the amphibious assault against the Imperial Japanese Army and Naval forces on the Volcanic Island of Iwo Jima (Battle Dates: February 19-March 26, 1945) Code Name: Operation Detachment. He died of wounds encountered on the battlefield, and buried at sea Friday, February 23, 1945. His name is permanently inscribed in the tablets of the missing, memorialized at the Honolulu National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, ‘Punchbowl’ Hawaii. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country.