Francis Junior Pierce Francis Junior Pierce ( December 7 , 1924 – December 21 , 1986 ) was a United States Navy Corpsman who received the Medal of Honor for actions in the Battle of Iwo Jima during World War II . Biography . Early years and military service . Pierce was born on December 7 , 1924 and grew up in Delaware County , Iowa . A week after his 17th birthday ( the day Pearl Harbor was attacked ) , he enlisted in the Navy . After his initial training at Great Lakes Training Center in Illinois he trained to become a hospital corpsman and then joined Marine Corps combat infantry training . Pierce was assigned to the 4th Marine Division where he participated in numerous military campaigns including Saipan and Tinian . During Iwo Jima , he helped in caring for wounded Marines and became one of four corpsman to receive the Medal during the battle , although he was initially awarded the Navy Cross . Retirement . In December 1945 , Pierce was discharged from the Navy . After a brief stay in his hometown of Earlville , Iowa he moved to Grand Rapids , Michigan . There , he married a young woman named Lorraine who he had been communicating with during the war and joined the Grand Rapids Police Department . He also briefly served in the Michigan National Guard from May 1949 to November 1950 . In 1948 , Pierce was informed that his Navy Cross was being upgraded to the Medal of Honor . He was presented with the Medal in a White House Rose Garden ceremony by President Harry S . Truman . In civilian life , Pierce had two sons with his wife Lorraine . After she died , he married Madelyn Mellema and had two daughters . He served a long distinctive career in the police , carrying out many duties such as being the head of the vice squad and being a bomb disposal expert . He eventually became deputy chief of the Grand Rapids Police Department in 1972 , and retired in 1982 . Francis Pierce died of lung cancer in 1986 . Legacy . A special memorial scholarship was established by the Marine Corps in his name to honor Navy Corspman . Medal of Honor citation . Pierce , Francis Junior " Rank and organization : " Pharmacist ' s Mate First Class " Place and date : " U . S . Navy serving with 2d Battalion , 24th Marines , 4th Marine Division " Entered service at : " Earlville , Iowa " Born : " December 7 , 1924 " Citation : " For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while attached to the 2d Battalion , 24th Marines , 4th Marine Division , during the Iwo Jima campaign , 15 and 16 March 1945 . Almost continuously under fire while carrying out the most dangerous volunteer assignments , Pierce gained valuable knowledge of the terrain and disposition of troops . Caught in heavy enemy rifle and machinegun fire which wounded a corpsman and 2 of the 8 stretcher bearers who were carrying 2 wounded marines to a forward aid station on 15 March , Pierce quickly took charge of the party , carried the newly wounded men to a sheltered position , and rendered first aid . After directing the evacuation of 3 of the casualties , he stood in the open to draw the enemy ' s fire and , with his weapon blasting , enabled the litter bearers to reach cover . Turning his attention to the other 2 casualties he was attempting to stop the profuse bleeding of 1 man when a Japanese fired from a cave less than 20 yards away and wounded his patient again . Risking his own life to save his patient , Pierce deliberately exposed himself to draw the attacker from the cave and destroyed him with the last of his ammunition Then lifting the wounded man to his back , he advanced unarmed through deadly rifle fire across 200 feet of open terrain . Despite exhaustion and in the face of warnings against such a suicidal mission , he again traversed the same fire - swept path to rescue the remaining marine . On the following morning , he led a combat patrol to the sniper nest and , while aiding a stricken Marine , was seriously wounded . Refusing aid for himself , he directed treatment for the casualty , at the same time maintaining protective fire for his comrades . Completely fearless , completely devoted to the care of his patients , Pierce inspired the entire battalion . His valor in the face of extreme peril sustains and enhances the finest traditions of the U . S . Naval Service .