Joseph Joshua Pearce

These awards are based on the information below and per applicable DoD Directives and Awards Manuals:
Purple Heart Awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States who, while serving under competent authority in any capacity with one of the U.S. Armed Forces, after April 5, 1917, has been wounded, killed, or who has died or may hereafter die of wounds received in action against an enemy of the United States.
American Campaign Service Medal Awarded for military service within the American Theater between December 7, 1941 and March 2, 1946.
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal Awarded for military service with the Asiatic-Pacific Theater between December 7, 1941 and March 2, 1946.
World War II Victory Medal Awarded for military service between December 7, 1941 and December 31, 1946, both dates inclusive.
Note that this list may not include all awarded medals, devices, unit citations or qualification badges. Sea1c Pearce most likely had also earned the US Navy Good Conduct Medal.

Documents, Forms and Resources Found or Not Found:
No  ABMC Form 1, Headstone Inscription And Interment Record
No  Eyewitness Statement or Report
Yes Memorial Marker Photo, Find A Grave Memorial: 27541919
Yes US Navy After Action Report H-040-3: Leyte, Ormoc Bay, and Mindoro
    Under Heading: Ormoc Bay Engagements, November-December 1944, Paragraphs 3 and 4.
No  Photo of veteran
No  Washington Newspaper Obit, Notice, or Report
Yes WWII Draft Card Data

WWII Draft Card Data
Joseph Joshua Pearce
Race, Gender: White Male  -  Age: 32  -  Relationship to Draftee: Self
Birth Date: in September 19, 1908   -  Birth Place: Mexico, Missouri
Residence Place: Fulton, Callaway County, Missouri
Registration Date, Place: October 16, 1940, Fulton, Callaway County, Missouri
Employer: Missouri School For Deaf
Height: 5' 5" - Weight: 151
Eye Color: Blue, Hair Color: Blonde, Complexion: Light
Next of Kin: Almeda H. Pearce
Members of Household: Joseph Joshua Pearce, Self
Almeda H Pearce, Wife

Note 1: The death location, "In the Ormoc Bay" is based on the best information available at this time. In the case of Sea1c Pearce, this location was validated on:

A. The American Battle Monuments Commission website identifies his Service Number as 8908637 and Navy Rating as Seaman First Class U.S. Navy.

B. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency records: "Pearce, Joseph J, SEA1, 8908637, USNR, from Washington, USS Cooper, location Philippine Islands, missing, date of loss December 3, 1944".

C. The United States Navy Memorial (USNM) records: "Pearce, Joseph, Sea1c, USN, Cooper DD-695, December 3, 1944".

D. The States Summary of War Casualties from WW2 - National Archives records: "Pearce, Joseph Joshua, Seaman 1c, USNR. Wife, Mrs. Alemeda Hartford Pearce, Box 1075, Sequim, Wash".

E. Further information on history of the USS Cooper can be found at Naval History and Heritage Command website Ormoc Bay Engagements, November-December 1944 and the Wikipedia website USS Cooper.

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