"On a very cold final day of 2009 we laid to rest Harry Ash Pearce, an 87 year old World War II? Veteran.? An active Marine Corps Honor Guard participated in the service and flag folding, along with our local Marine Corps League accompanied by the sweet sounds of the pipes bewailing our blessed hymn.
Harry was our ?special guy? in this area of Marine Corps Leaguers?active in various local parades, sometimes restricted to a ride in a golf cart in recent years, but always a visible presence— usually the ?senior representative? for the cake cutting ceremony of our League Marine Corps Birthday celebration— and always the dapper, squared away model in the uniform of the MCL.
In 1942, Harry was attending college in his second term when Pearl Harbor was attacked.? He dropped out and enlisted in the Marine Corps that same year as a 20 year old.? In 1944 he was assigned to Easy Company, 2nd Btn., 23rd Regiment, 4th Marine Division as a demolition specialist and made first wave landings on Roi-Namur of the Marshall Islands, Saipan-Tinian in the Mariannes? and Iwo Jima.? He was actually left for dead on Iwo until, by a miracle, was found to be barely alive lying in a mortar crater and finally recovered in a Hawaiian hospital.
Harry received the Silver Star, three Purple Hearts, the Legion of Merit Medal, Presidential Citation with 2 Stars and many other decorations for service to his country.? He returned to college after discharge from his beloved Corps to gain a geology degree, raised a family of four daughters, was involved in rock hounding and jewelry making, small farming, including grapes and various berry plants, developing one of the largest such farms in Kansas.? After retiring to Hanover, Kansas to be near his daughters and their families, Harry was prompted continually by one of his grandsons in 2004 to write about his experiences during his service time.? Thus he published a book titled ?Star Shells, Condoms and K-bars? which highlights his WWll experiences throughout the Pacific Theatre.
Our Marine Corps League unit is very proud to have been associated with Harry Pearce and will forever remember the sacrifices that he and the members of the ?Greatest Generation? made for all the many freedoms we are able to enjoy.? It is reassuring to know that The Gates are now being guarded with Harry standing first watch.
If anyone would like more information regarding Harry Pearce?s book, please contact:? Pat (Pearce) Mueller, Rt. 2, Hanover, KS 66945 or e-mail at gmamuel [at] yahoo.com."???
Ron Grauer
Sgt of Marines
1962? – 1966
2005103? ?