World War II Honoree

Richard Allan Pearce

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Poughkeepsie, New York

Honored By

Michael J. Lynett

His civil engineer education at Cornell University was interrupted when he enlisted in the U.S. Army in August, 1943. Though he aspired to be a tail gunner, he was assigned to the U.S. 3rd Army, 87th Infantry Division, 347th Infantry, F Company, as a rifleman. His European battlefield experience in the Lorraine Campaign resulted in multiple wounds, and earned him two Purple Heart medals, a Bronze Star, and Silver Star for gallantry and valor in action.