Larry Stanley Pierce

SSG Larry Stanley Pierce was born 6 July 1941 in Wewoka, Oklahoma. His family moved to California when he was young. He was raised there in the city of Taft and attended Taft Union High School.

Pierce joined the Army from Fresno, California, in 1961. By 20 September 1965 he was serving as a sergeant in the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion (Airborne), 173rd Airborne Brigade. On that day, near Ben Cá in the central highlands of South Vietnam (north of Saigon), “SGT Pierce was serving as squad leader in a reconnaissance platoon when his patrol was ambushed by hostile forces. Through his inspiring leadership and personal courage, the squad succeeded in eliminating an enemy machine gun and routing the opposing force. While pursuing the fleeing enemy, the squad came upon a dirt road and, as the main body of his men entered the road, SGT Pierce discovered an antipersonnel mine emplaced in the roadbed. Realizing that the mine could destroy the majority of his squad, SGT Pierce saved the lives of his men at the sacrifice of his life by throwing himself directly onto the mine as it exploded.”

“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” (ESV John 15:13)

For his actions, Pierce was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor and Purple Heart on 24 February 1966, and promoted to staff sergeant. The Medal was formally presented to his family by President Lyndon B. Johnson during a ceremony at the White House.

On 6 February 2008, the post office in Taft was renamed the Larry S. Pierce Post Office in his honor. A portion of California State Route 46, which runs through Wasco, was designated the Staff Sergeant Larry S. Pierce Memorial Highway in 2009. Pierce is buried in Wasco Memorial Park in Wasco, California.