Clinton Albert Pierce (June 15, 1894 – August 22, 1966) was an American brigadier general and commander of the

26th Cavalry Regiment The 26th Cavalry Regiment (Philippine Scouts) (26th CAV (PS)) was part of U.S. Army Forces Far East's Philippine Department, during World War II. The 26th engaged in the last cavalry charge in the history of the U.S. cavalry. The American Bat ...

(Philippine Scouts) during the

Battle of Bataan The Battle of Bataan (; 7 January – 9 April 1942) was fought by the United States and the Philippine Commonwealth against Imperial Japan during World War II. The battle represented the most intense phase of the Japanese invasion of the Phi ...

Military service

Pierce served as a corporal in the

Illinois National Guard The Illinois National Guard comprises both Army National Guard and Air National Guard components of Illinois. As of 2013, the Illinois National Guard has approximately 13,200 members. The National Guard is the only United States military force e ...

field artillery from June to October 1916. He was commissioned as a U.S. Army second lieutenant of cavalry in March 1917. Pierce served as a temporary major during

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

. Pierce graduated from the Cavalry School advanced course in 1932. He was promoted to major in March 1930 and lieutenant colonel in July 1939. Sent to the Philippines in May 1940, Pierce received temporary promotions to colonel in October 1941 and brigadier general in January 1942. He then assumed command of the 71st Division. After surrendering to Japanese forces in April 1942, Pierce spent over three years as a prisoner of war.

Post War

In March 1947, his temporary promotion to brigadier general was renewed. In April 1947, his promotion to colonel was made permanent retroactive to December 1945. His postwar assignments were at

Fort Riley Fort Riley is a United States Army installation located in North Central Kansas, on the Kansas River, also known as the Kaw, between Junction City and Manhattan. The Fort Riley Military Reservation covers 101,733 acres (41,170 ha) in Ge ...

, Kansas and

Augsburg Augsburg ( , ; ; ) is a city in the Bavaria, Bavarian part of Swabia, Germany, around west of the Bavarian capital Munich. It is a College town, university town and the regional seat of the Swabia (administrative region), Swabia with a well ...

, West Germany. He retired from active duty as a brigadier general on February 28, 1951.

Later life

After his retirement, Pierce and his wife Margaret settled in

Eureka Springs, Arkansas Eureka Springs is a city in Carroll County, Arkansas, United States, and one of two county seats for the county. It is located in the Ozark Mountains of northwest Arkansas, near the border with Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the city popula ...

. He died at Eureka Springs City Hospital of lingering complications from an automobile accident and was interred at

Arlington National Cemetery Arlington National Cemetery is the largest cemetery in the United States National Cemetery System, one of two maintained by the United States Army. More than 400,000 people are buried in its 639 acres (259 ha) in Arlington County, Virginia. ...

on August 25, 1966.

References

External links

Generals of World War II
1894 births 1966 deaths Illinois National Guard personnel Military personnel from New York City United States Army personnel of World War I United States Army generals of World War II Recipients of the Silver Star American prisoners of war in World War II World War II prisoners of war held by Japan Bataan Death March prisoners Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army) United States Army generals People from Eureka Springs, Arkansas Burials at Arlington National Cemetery {{US-mil-bio-stub