Rites Today For County Soldier Killed in Viet
Funeral services were to be conducted today in Palacios for Army Spec. 4 Michael Abel Pierce who was killed in South Vietnam Jan. 1, 1971. Stationed at Chu Lai, Pierce met his untimely death when a weapon accidentally went off, according to his mother, Mrs. Abel Pierce, Jr. of Palacios. The serviceman had specialized in explosive ordnance demolition, she said. A 1968 graduate of Palacios High School, Pierce volunteered into the Army March 5 of that year. He had been in Vietnam since July 1, 1970. Born in Brownfield, Texas, Pierce had lived in Palacios since he was one year old. He died only 26 days before his 21st birthday. He is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Abel Pierce, Jr. of Palacios; grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Abel Pierce, Sr., also of Palacios and grandmother Mrs. R. C. Wilkerson of Needville, Texas. Also left are his sister, Martha Elizabeth, and two brothers, John Roy of North Salt Lake and Warren Edward, currently stationed in Korea. Funeral services were expected to be held at 4 p.m. today at the First Presbyterian Church in Palacios, the Rev. Richard Stone of Belton, Texas, officiating. Interment was planned for Hawley Cemetery with full military services at the gravesite.
The Daily Tribune, Monday, January 11, 1971
Bay City, Matagorda County, Texas
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Michael Abel Pierce
Funeral services for Army Specialist 4 Michael Abel Pierce, who was killed in Chu Lai, Vietnam, on January 1, were held Monday, January 11, at 4 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. R. E. Stone officiating.
Burial, with full military honors by Army personnel, were held in Hawley Cemetery.
Born in Brownfield, Texas on January 27, 1950, he had lived in Palacios since he was a year old. He attended Palacios schools, graduating in 1968. He volunteered for the Army on March 5 of that same year and had been in Vietnam since July 1, 1970.
He is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Abel Pierce, Jr.; sister, Martha, of Palacios; two brothers, John Roy Pierce of North Salt Lake, Utah and Warren Pierce, who was serving in Korea and accompanied his brother's body home; his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Abel Pierce, Sr. of Palacios and Mrs. Bea Wilkerson of Needville.
The Palacios Beacon, Monday, January 13, 1971
Palacios, Matagorda County, Texas
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AWARDS PRESENTATION
Formal military ceremonies were held at the Armory Saturday morning to honor Michael Abel Pierce, son of Mr. and Mrs. Abel Pierce, Jr. of Palacios. He gave his life on Jan. 1, while serving with the United States Army in Vietnam. Prior to his death, the serviceman had received the National Defense Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, and Sharpshooters Badge with rifle. In the posthumous services, young Pierce was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Good Conduct Medal and the Combat Infantry Badge. These were presented to his mother by SFC Arthur Hamblin, Bay City Army Recruiter. Shown [in picture] left to right, are Lt. Glen Matthews of the 341st Chemical Co. Reserve Unit based in Bay City, SFC Hamblin, Mrs. Pierce, Abel Pierce and Martha Elizabeth Pierce, sister of the honored serviceman.
The Daily Tribune, Monday, June 7, 1971
Bay City, Matagorda County, Texas
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Placed by a member of the Matagorda County, Texas Historical Commission.
E-mail address is not available.
25 Sep 2002
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