Louis Allen Pierce was born on 29 June 1926, at Ute, Iowa, to Mabry Frank and Mabel H. (Wacheldorf). He lived in the Ute and Mapleton, Iowa, area until he and his family moved to Anthon, Iowa, in 1940, after Louie had completed the eighth grade. He came from a family of eight boys with him being the eldest. He worked for various farmers in the Anthon, Correctionville and Hornick area. He enlisted in the Army branch of the service on 19 July 1944, at Fort Snelling, Minnesota, where his military occupational specialty and number was cannoneer-844. His military qualification was MM W/carbine as member of Field Artillery Battalion in the Pacific Theater of Operations in the Philippines.
He was separated from the service on 8 August 1946. He received the Victory medal, Asiatic Pacific Theater Ribbon, Philippine Liberation Ribbon, two overseas service bars and good conduct medal. He did get malaria, while overseas and had some problems with it after he came home.
He returned to the Anthon area after the war and worked on the farm and for an elevator at Luton. He was married to Anita Myers on 11 May
1951, in Anthon. To this union were born three children, Alan Louis, Jo Ellen Rousch, and Rebecca Eitzen.
They farmed in the Anthon area. Louie was killed in a truck accident on 4 August 1969, on his youngest daughter’s second birthday.
One interesting thing on the Pierce family was that Frank, Louie’s father served in World War I, Louie served in World War II, his brothers Wayne, Darrell, and Larry in the Korean War and Terry, his youngest brother served in the Vietnam War. His brother, Roger lived in Oregon and was in the National Guard.
Submitted by his widow, Anita L. Pierce Cooch.
Link to Pacific Theater Operations map submitted by Anita L. Pierce Cooch
