Francis E. Pierce

The Navy Cross is presented to Francis E. Pierce, Captain, U.S. Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism and coolness under fire while acting as observer in the leading plane of an air patrol during an engagement with outlaws in the vicinity of Murra, Nicaragua, on 19 March 1928. Although painfully wounded early in the fight Captain Pierce with great courage and determination kept his gun in action with telling effect until due to loss of blood, he was removed from the plane in a fainting condition at the nearest emergency flying field.