Pierce, John Reeves

Date of birth:: November 3rd, 1906 (Washington/D.C., United States)
Date of death:: January 10th, 1943 (Near Rabaul)
Mentioned on:: American Cemetery and Memorial Manila
Nationality:: American

Biography

Service Number 0-062097, commanding officer of USS Argonaut (SS-166). Sunk by surface attack and depth charges

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Navy Cross

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Lieutenant Commander
Unit:: U.S.S. Argonaut (SS-166), U.S. Navy

"For extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. ARGONAUT (SS-166), on 10 January 1943, during the THIRD War Patrol of that vessel. Upon sighting a hostile convoy escorted by destroyers and aircraft, Lieutenant Commander Pierce, while maneuvering his ship to a favorable striking position, discovered that the ARGONAUT her self had been detected and had fallen prey to vigorous antisubmarine measures on the part of the enemy. Fighting desperately to extricate his ship and her crew from a critical encounter, he pressed home an aggressive counter attack on the surface, severely damaging a Japanese destroyer before his own vessel, her guns still blazing defiantly, eventually went down under a deadly concentration of enemy fire. His courageous leadership and unyielding devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."

Posthumously awarded