Living Medal Of Honor Recipient

FRI 16 MAR 1945
Pacific
Iwo Jima is declared secured. Nevertheless, this day Pharmacist's Mate Second Class Francis J. Pierce, who distinguished himself the previous day, volunteers to accompany a patrol forward. Shot through the left arm, Pierce directs the treatment of a wounded marine and refusing having his own wounds dressed, fires his pistol to draw enemy fire. He remains in that exposed position in the line of fire until the casualty is safely borne away. For his actions this day and the previous one, Pierce is awarded the Medal of Honor.

Transported in medium landing craft (LCM) and one submarine chaser (SC), and supported by gunfire from three destroyers, two LCI(R), three LCS(L) and 2 LCI(M), Army troops (a reinforced company) land on Basilan Island Sulu Archipelago, P.I.

Tank landing ship LST-928 is damaged, by grounding, off Iwo Jima, 24°46'N, 141°19'E.

Japanese Coast Defense Vessel No.69 sinks while in tow, eight miles off Hong Kong, 22°00'N, 113°40'E, as the result of damage inflicted by USAAF B-24s (14th Air Force) on 8 March.

Japanese guardboat No.19 Gokoku Maru is sunk by U.S. aircraft, Kikaiga Jima, Japan.

Japanese merchant tanker No.1 Nanryu Maru is sunk by aircraft, 29°09'N, 122°01'E.