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William Frederick “Fred” Pierce was been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (posthumously) and the Air Medal for combat operations in the Pacific during World War II.

His sons, Roger Pierce and Fred Pierce, attended the ceremony.

Pierce, a lifelong resident of Cooleemee, died in 2010. He had been an American Legion member for more than 60 years and was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

He served in Naval Ordinance as a tail gunner in a B24 Liberator, with the majority of his missions in the Iwo Jima and Chichi Jima areas.

“We were humbled and proud to receive these awards on his behalf,” Roger said.