Bernard Lawrence Pierce
First Lieutenant, U.S. Army

Bernard Lawrence Pierce enlisted in the U.S. Army and then attended Armor Officer Candidate School Class 30-67 at Fort Knox, KY. At graduation he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant of Armor.

On 19 June 1969, First Lieutenant Bernard Lawrence Pierce was serving with Troop I, 3rd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in South Vietnam.

On that day, 1LT Pierce was leader of an armored platoon near An Loc. Late in the afternoon his troop and an element of infantry came under hostile rocket grenade and automatic weapons fire. Seeing that the squad of foot soldiers was pinned down in an exposed position, 1LT Pierce directed his vehicle and another track to go to their aid. As the 2 tracks moved in, 1LT Pierce's track was struck by an antitank rocket, the blast of which rendered him blind. Despite his serious wounds, he ordered the assault continued as he manned his machine gun, unleashing a fusillade of suppressive fire. Just after the other track succeeded in rescuing the wounded infantrymen, a rocket-propelled grenade again struck 1LT Pierce's vehicle, killing him. 1LT Pierce's extraordinary heroism, at the cost of his life, earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Medals and Awards

Distinguished Service Cross
Bronze Star Medal (Merit)
Purple Heart
Army Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to First Lieutenant (Armor) Bernard Lawrence Pierce, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Troop I, 3d Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. First Lieutenant Pierce distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 19 June 1969 while serving as leader of an armored platoon near An Loc. Late in the afternoon his troop and an element of infantry came under intense hostile rocket grenade and automatic weapons fire. Seeing that the squad of foot soldiers was pinned down in an exposed position, Lieutenant Pierce directed his vehicle and another track to go to their aid. As the two tracks moved in, Lieutenant Pierce's track was struck by an antitank rocket, the blast of which rendered him blind. Despite the pain of his serious wounds, he ordered the assault continued as he valiantly manned his machine gun, unleashing a fusillade of suppressive fire. Just after the other track succeeded in rescuing the wounded infantrymen, a rocket-propelled grenade again struck his vehicle and claimed Lieutenant Pierce's life. First Lieutenant Pierce's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, at the cost of his life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

General Orders: Headquarters, U.S. Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 4281 (December 1, 1969)

Honors

The name Bernard L Pierce is located on Panel 22W Line 92 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.

Burial

First Lieutenant Bernard Lawrence Pierce is buried at Saint Catherines Cemetery in Broad Brook, Hartford County, CT.

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