Fred Arthur Pierce

Fred, the son of Thelma (McDaniel) Pierce and Herold Daniel Pierce was born February 9, 1936 in the middle of the worst blizzard in 50 years. This occurred on the family farm between the towns of Brashear and Kirksville, Missouri. It was 3 days before a Doctor was able to arrive and state, “mother and a fine baby boy are doing fine”.  Fred was joined by brothers, Harold Daniel Pierce, Jr.; born August 28, 1937, and Carol Gene Pierce on June 12, 1939. In 1942, the family moved to Kansas City, Kansas to live with Harold’s parents Fred and Nina Pierce, while both Fred’s parents worked in the World War 2 defense plants.  In 1941 Fred’s father Harold lost his right leg below the knee in a railroad accident which disqualified him from military service.  Fred attended school from the first to fourth grades at New Zinc school in Kansas City, Kansas.

In 1946 the family moved to the family farm 12 ½ miles from Springfield, Colorado.  Fred attended school at North Lone Star school 13 ½ miles north of Springfield, graduating from the 8 ^th grade in the spring of 1950.  In the fall of 1951 Fred started high school at Springfield High School.

On October 8, 1953 Fred quit High School as a junior and joined the U.S. Navy. He reported to U.S. Naval Recruit Training Command, San Diego. California for training. January of 1954 Fred reported to U.S. Naval Training in Center Bainbridge, Maryland for class “A” Gunners school, graduating in May 1954.

In May 1954 Fred reported on board the USS Forrest Royal (DD872) for duty. The Forrest Royal left its home port of Newport, Rhode Island for a world cruise.  August 2, 1954 the ship went through the Panama Canal westbound with stops in San Diego, California, Pearl Harbor, and Midway Island arriving In Yokosuka, Japan on September 7, 1954. September through November 1954 the ship operated off Korea. In January 1955, the ship visited Hong Kong, Subic Bay and Manilla Bay in the Philippine Islands and Singapore in British Borneo. January 27, 1955 the Forrest Royal crossed the equator and continued west to Columbo Ceylon, then Saudi Arabia and Massawa and entered the Suez Canal with stops in Naples, Italy, Villa Franeha, France, Barcelona, Spain, and Patna Del Grata, Azores Islands the tour complete and back to home port in New Port, Rhode Island. Another world tour took place from July 1955-March 1956 including stops at Argentina, Iceland, New Orleans, Guantanamo Bay and Santiago.

This was a typical tour for Fred during his long career with the U.S. Navy. He was assigned to the US Naval Hospital ship for a med cruise, was on a commissioning detail for the USS Lester (DE1022) of Charleston, South Carolina. While aboard the USS Lester the crew searched for survivors of the Italian freighter “Bonito” that foundered and sank south of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. The USS Lester rescued two survivors and recovered six bodies. Fred received a letter of commendation from the admiral of Cruiser/Destroyer Force Atlantic Fleet for going into shark infested waters to recover bodies. Other tours Fred mentions is his assignment to the USS Wasp, an aircraft carrier, and his assignment to a commissioning detail on the USS Garcia in the San Francisco Navy Yards; this he told many family and friends was his favorite ship.

Fred met his future wife, Elaine Guisti in September of 1959 in Boston, Massachusetts, they were married a short time later.

Fred and Elaine never had any children. Fred retired from the U.S. Navy in 1974 after serving 20 years protecting our freedoms. One of the things Fred enjoyed after retirement, was being a part of the Baca County VFW Post #4001 Honor Guard.

Sometime, after Elaine passed away; Fred met and fell in love with a lady by the name of Lavone Alice; they were married April 16, 2011. Fred never had children of his own; but Lavone has three grown children. He loved them as his own and they love him dearly.

Fred is survived by his wife, Lavone; Lavone’s children, Bonnie (Dale) Neffendorf of Silt, Colorado; Danny (Carmen) Adams of Limon, Colorado; and Mike Adams and girlfriend Kim of Hugo, Colorado; also, numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren.

A graveside service with military honors will be held Saturday, March 27, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. in the Springfield Cemetery, Springfield, Colorado. Following the service the family will have a reception at the Longhorn Steakhouse in Springfield.