Private First Class Pierce was a member of Company D, 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regimental Combat Team. He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy near Chabok-Tong, North Korea on 30 October 1950.

For his leadership and valor, Private First Class Pierce was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.