George Ellis Pierce
CDR George E. Pierce being awarded the Navy Cross by RDML Lockwood.
Born(1909-10-13)October 13, 1909
Colón, Panama
DiedJune 29, 1981(1981-06-29) (aged 71)
Buried
Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance United States of America
Branch United States Navy
Years of service1932-
Rank Rear Admiral
Service number0-71646
Commands heldUSS Tunny (SS-282)[1]
Mine Division 2
USS Suribachi (AE-21)[2]
Battles/warsWorld War II
Korean War
Awards Navy Cross (2)
Legion of Merit (2)
Alma materUnited States Naval Academy
Spouse(s)Mary Mercedes Miller [3]
RelationsJohn Reeves Pierce (Brother) [4][5]

George Ellis Pierce (13 Oct 1909 – 29 Jun 1981), was a decorated submarine commander during World War II who reached the rank of rear admiral in the United States Navy.[6]

Pierce was born in 1909 to Dr. Claude Connor Pierce Sr. and Shirley Pierce (née Reeves) in Colón, Panama, while Dr. Pierce was serving there with the United States Public Health Service. His older brother John Reeves Pierce graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1928, and George followed him in 1932. Pierce began his career in the Navy with submarines, but later transferred to dirigibles. During World War II, John "Jack" Pierce was killed in action when the submarine he commanded, the USS Argonaut (SM-1), was sunk by the Japanese. Upon hearing of his brother's death, Pierce immediately volunteered for submarine duty.[5] On 10 July 1944 Pierce took command of the USS Tunny (SS-282), a Gato-class submarine. Pierce commanded the USS Tunny on her 7th, 8th, and 9th war patrol, being awarded the Navy Cross for the 8th and 9th war patrols.[6]

References

  1. ↑ Svonavec (1939-10-01). "Submarine Commanders by USNA Class Year, 1931 - 1934". Fleet Organization Home Page. Archived from the original on 2019-12-19. Retrieved 2020-01-07.
  2. ↑ "Ammunition Ship Photo Index". NavSource Naval History. 1955-01-31. Retrieved 2020-01-09.
  3. ↑ "Navy Captain Visits His Daughter". Kansas City Times. 1952-08-26. p. 4. Retrieved 2020-01-07 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "Dr. Claude C. Pierce Dies; 40 Years in U.S. Service". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. 1944-03-20. p. 7. Retrieved 2020-01-07 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. 1 2 Blair, Clay (2001). Silent victory : the U.S. submarine war against Japan. Annapolis, Md: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-217-X. OCLC 45207785.
  6. 1 2 "George Pierce - Recipient -". Military Medals Database. 1909-10-13. Retrieved 2020-01-09.


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