UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS---------------- HEADQUARTERS, FLEET MARINE FORCE, PACIFIC--------------------- ---------------------FPO, SAN FRANCISCO 96601

                 The  Secretary  of  the  Navy  takes  pleasure  in  presenting  the
NAVY COMMENDATION MEDAL to

for service as set forth in the following

               CITATION:

                            "For  heroic  achievement  while  serving  as  a Corpsman with Company I,  Third Battalion,  Twenty-Sixth Marines,  Third Marine Division  in connection with  operations against  the enemy in the  Republic of Vietnam.  On 19 January 1968,  Petty Officer PIERCE's unit was  conducting a  search and de- stroy operation near Khe Sanh when  the Marines suddenly  came under  intense small arms,  automatic weapons and  antitank rocket fire.  In the  initial burst of fire,  two Marines  fell wounded  in an  area dangerously  exposed to  the  hostile fire.   Disregarding  his  own  safety,  Petty  Officer  PIERCE  unhesitatingly  ran across  the fire-swept  terrain  to aid  the wounded  Marines.  Undaunted  by  the hostile fire,  he skillfully  administered first aid and  then directed the evacuation of  the casualties to a covered position.  When another Marine was subsequently wounded, Petty Officer  PIERCE fearlessly  moved across the  dangerous area to the  injured  man's  location treating  his wounds.  The  following  morning,  the Marines  again came  under intense hostile fire and, in the ensuing fire fight, sev- eral Marines  were wounded.  Reacting  instantly, Petty  officer PIERCE  moved forward and, ignoring  the enemy fire impacting around him,  moved  about  the hazardous  area rendering  aid to the  injured men,  Repeatedly exposing himself to  the  hostile  fire,  he  assisted  the  wounded  to  positions  of  relative  safety. Throughout the remainder of the day,  he resolutely continued to treat casualties and supervise  their evacuation.  By his courage,  sincere concern for  the welfare of  his  comrades and  steadfast devotion  to duty in  the  face of  great  personal danger,  Petty Officer PIERCE saved the lives of several Marines and upheld the finest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service."

Hospital Corpsman Third Class PIERCE is authorized to wear the Combat "V".