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As the original investigating officer I took the sworn statements of the squad members who were saved that day by Sgt. Pierce's action. There is no doubt that he tried to save the lives of his squad and he did. I believed when he dove toward the mine he was trying to knock the claymore mine upward so that the blast would be deflected. However, instead he took the full blast himself.
The original statements were hand written by the squad members. Before they could be typed and re-signed two of the members also died in combat. The Brigade chaplain gave a Sunday talk about "was it worth the sacrifice for another week of life for two of his men?" The conclusion was that it was for the other six members and for the two who died.
Years later I was recounting the story at a 173rd gathering to the original Commanding General Ellis W Williamson. General Williamson said he was in the Oval Office when President Johnson was awarding the Medal of Honor to Mrs Pierce and the family. The President told the little boy that he had something to give him later. As the officer started to read the citation, the little boy asked "What do you have for me?" President Johnson held up his hand and stopped the reading. Then he got down on his hands and knees with the little boy and opened a bottom drawer of the desk. He took out a small pocket knife with the presidential seal and gave it to the lad with the admonition that he could only use it when the mother said it was ok. The President got up and the ceremony reading continued as the little boy beamed!
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