Second Lieutenant Charles W. Pierce, DSC

Distinguished Service Cross (DSC), 351st Infantry Regiment

HEADQUARTERS FIFTH ARMY

12 May 1944

GENERAL ORDERS

NUMBER 52

CHARLES W. PIERCE, (01540717), Second Lieutenant, Infantry, United States Army. For extraordinary heroism in action, on 2 October 1944, near Castel del Rio, Italy. When his patrol was halted by machine gun fire from an enemy strong point, Second Lieutenant PIERCE (then Technical Sergeant) boldly crawled through deadly fire and, firing a rifle grenade, killed the three Germans manning the weapon. Aggressively leading the advance in the face of increasing enemy resistance, he neared the patrol's objective, a village on the reverse slope of a hill. Encountering intense machine gun and rifle fire, Second Lieutenant PIERCE ordered his men to form a base of fire and crawled toward the nearest house held by the Germans. Assaulting this strongpoint, he threw a grenade through the front door, killing three enemy soldiers. When an enemy soldier fired at him with a machine pistol, Second Lieutenant PIERCE killed the German with a grenade. Several of his men joined him, and together they forced the surrender of six enemy machine gunners occupying the building. After holding the house against strong enemy counterattacks until lack of ammunition necessitated withdrawal, Second Lieutenant PIERCE led his men through heavy shellfire toward American lines. Discovering another hostile machine gun, he forced three more Germans to surrender and destroyed their weapon. The courage and resourcefulness displayed by Second Lieutenant PIERCE provided an inspiration to his men and his heroic performance exemplifies the highest traditions of the Armed Forces. Entered military service from Warren, Ohio.

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General Orders No. 52, Headquarters, Fifth Army, 12 May 1944; World War II Operational and Unit Records; Records of the Adjutant General's Office, Record Group 407; National Archives at College Park, College Park, MD.