Pvt. John Richard Pearce was born in Treharris, Wales, on November 25, 1920, to Fred Pearce and Emily Cole-Pearce. He was known as “Jack” to his family and friends. His father immigrated to the United States, and his mother, brother, and he immigrated to the US on the SS Berengaria on May 27, 1922. When they arrived, they settled in Johnston City, Illinois, where his father was working as a coal miner. By 1929, his family was living at 231 South 14th Avenue, Maywood, Illinois. He also now had two sisters. He graduated from Washington School, Maywood, and attended Proviso Township High School for two years before leaving to go to work. His family later resided at 111 South 11th Avenue, Maywood.
Jack registered with Selective Service on February 16, 1942, and named his mother as his contact person. Knowing that he would be drafted int the Army, he enlisted in the US Army on December 9, 1942, and was issued the serial number 36 716 381. It appears he did his basic training at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana. While stationed there, on May 22, 1943, he was one of 116 soldiers to become US citizens. He next trained at Camp Howze, Texas. It is not known when, but he was assigned to B Company, 318th Infantry Regiment, 80th Infantry Division. The division is known to have trained at Camp Philipps, Kansas, Camp Iron Mountain, California, and Camp Laguna, Arizona, from December 1943 to March 1944.
On July 1, 1944, the division left the United States and landed in France where they joined in the Northern France campaign. It was during the attack on the village of Argentan, that Pvt. John R. Pearce was reported to have been killed in action on August 18, 1944, when he was hit in his head by enemy gun fire. Some government documents show August 20, 1944, as his date of death. He was buried at the United States Military Cemetery #1, Gorron, France, on August 21, 1944, in Plot B, Row 8, Grave 156.
His parents received a telegram from the War Department.
MRS EMILY PEARCE 231 14TH AVE MAYWOOD ILL
THE SECRETARY OF WAR HIS DEEPEST REGRET THAT YOUR SON PRIVATE JOHN R PEARCE WAS KILLED IN ACTION ON 18 AUGUST IN FRANCE LETTER FOLLOWS
ULIO THE ADJUTANT GENERAL
The content of the letter is not known. His parents held a memorial service for John at the First Methodist Church, in Maywood, on September 30, 1944.
In a letter dated November 18, 1946, the War Department sent his parents the name of the cemetery John was buried in, the location of John’s grave, and that in the future they would receive another letter providing them with their options for his final burial. Almost a year later, in a letter dated October 2, 1947, his parents received a letter providing them with their options for John’s final burial. His mother was asked to fill-out and return to the Office of the Quartermaster General, Washington DC, an enclosed form indicating where she wanted John buried. The completed form was received by the OQMG on October 15th, indicating his parents wanted John returned to Illinois for burial.
On July 2, 1948, John’s remains were exhumed from the USMC, Gorron, France, and sent, by truck, to Casketing Point A, Cherbourg, France. After being casketed, John remained at the Cherbourg until August 3rd, when his casket was placed on the USAT Lawrence Victory which sailed the same day. The ship arrived in the New York Port of Entry on August 19th. On the 24th, his casket was sent by train, with a military escort, the Quartermaster Corps’ Distribution Center #8, Chicago, and arrived on August 26th. His casket remained there until September 29th when it was taken in a military hearse, with a military escort, to the Suburban Funeral Home, Maywood, Illinois, on September 29th. A wake was held at the funeral home on September 30th, and on October 1, 1948, Pvt. John R. Pearce was buried in Glen Oak Cemetery, Hillside, Illinois, in the East Lawn Section, Lot 72, Grave 3.
