General Pierson attended Cornell University then left college in 1918 to begin his military career during World War I. During the 1920s, he was a company officer in Puerto Rico and the Panama Canal Zone, then taught military science at Cornell and served at Fort Benning, Georgia, Fort Devens, Massachusetts, Washington and the Philippines. He attended the Army War College and the Command and General Staff School.
In World War II, he was Assistant Commander of the 11th Airborne Division, and he led his men in combat operations in New Guinea and the Philippines. Upon Japan's capitulation in 1945, his troops were among the first to arrive in Japan for occupation duty.
His career also included three years as Chief of Staff for the U.S. Army in the Far East and two years as director of the Joint Airborne Troop Board and Army member of the Joint Air Transportation Board and Joint Tactical Support Board. From 1951 to 1953, Gen. Pierson was Chief of the U.S. Military Advisory Group to the Philippines.
In 1961, after more than 40 years of military service, General Pierson returned to college and graduated from George Washington University, where he later received a master's degree in business administration. He did management consulting for Jessup & Co. management consultants.
His military decorations included a Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster, Bronze Star and Air Medal.
General Pierson attended Cornell University then left college in 1918 to begin his military career during World War I. During the 1920s, he was a company officer in Puerto Rico and the Panama Canal Zone, then taught military science at Cornell and served at Fort Benning, Georgia, Fort Devens, Massachusetts, Washington and the Philippines. He attended the Army War College and the Command and General Staff School.
In World War II, he was Assistant Commander of the 11th Airborne Division, and he led his men in combat operations in New Guinea and the Philippines. Upon Japan's capitulation in 1945, his troops were among the first to arrive in Japan for occupation duty.
His career also included three years as Chief of Staff for the U.S. Army in the Far East and two years as director of the Joint Airborne Troop Board and Army member of the Joint Air Transportation Board and Joint Tactical Support Board. From 1951 to 1953, Gen. Pierson was Chief of the U.S. Military Advisory Group to the Philippines.
In 1961, after more than 40 years of military service, General Pierson returned to college and graduated from George Washington University, where he later received a master's degree in business administration. He did management consulting for Jessup & Co. management consultants.
His military decorations included a Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster, Bronze Star and Air Medal.
Gravesite Details
MAJ GEN US ARMY; WORLD WAR I; WORLD WAR II; KOREA
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