Memorial Day: Three soldiers received highest medal for valor, but paid with their lives

May 28—The true purpose of Memorial Day is to recognize, honor and remember those who, as Abraham Lincoln said, "gave the last full measure of devotion" to the cause of freedom.

More than 1.3 million American soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen have been killed in all wars since the American Revolution. And each one deserves to be honored on Memorial Day.

What follows are the stories of three soldiers, each one with a Kern County connection, who gave their lives in battle and were awarded the Medal of Honor, the highest and most prestigious U.S. military decoration for valor.

Only three men who lived in Kern County have been recipients of this medal. All three received the award posthumously.

U.S. Army Sgt. Larry S. Pierce

Born in Oklahoma, Larry Pierce grew up in Taft in western Kern County where he attended Taft Union High School. He and his wife, Verlin, had a daughter and two sons.

Pierce joined the Army in 1961, and served with the 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade.

According to his citation for bravery, Pierce was serving as squad leader in a reconnaissance platoon in the central highlands of South Vietnam when his patrol was ambushed by hostile forces.

It was Sept. 20, 1965. He was 24.

"Through his inspiring leadership and personal courage," his medal citation reads, "the squad succeeded in eliminating an enemy machine gun and routing the opposing force.

"While pursuing the fleeing enemy, the squad came upon a dirt road and, as the main body of his men entered the road, Sgt. Pierce discovered an antipersonnel mine emplaced in the road bed."

With no time to think, and realizing the mine had the potential to kill nearly every man in his squad, Pierce threw himself directly onto the device as it exploded.

"Through his indomitable courage, complete disregard for his safety, and profound concern for his fellow soldiers, he averted loss of life and injury to the members of his squad," the citation said.

"Sgt. Pierce's extraordinary heroism, at the cost of his life, are in the highest traditions of the U.S. Army and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country."

On Feb. 24, 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson dispatched his personal aircraft, Air Force One, to Bakersfield in order to have the surviving family members — wife Verlin, daughter Teresa, and sons Kelly and Greggory — to the White House for the Medal of Honor ceremony.

For those who wish to pay their respects, Pierce's grave is at Wasco Memorial Park.

U.S. Army Spc. Leonard L. Alvarado

A Bakersfield native, Leonard Alvarado distinguished himself while serving as a rifleman during a mission to relieve a sister platoon under attack in Phuoc Long Province, Vietnam, according to his Army record and battlefield accounts of the night of Aug. 12, 1969.

Alvarado, just 22, was moving with a small reaction force through dense jungle. He knew the friendly platoon was in serious trouble, as their radio calls had become frantic.

According to his medal citation, Alvarado detected enemy movement and opened fire. However, he and his comrades were soon pinned down by a hostile force that blocked their path to the trapped platoon.

According to battlefield accounts of the firefight shared by Alvarado's comrades who were there, the proud east Bakersfield son was wounded yet continued advancing and firing into a fusillade of bullets and explosions, even as he silenced enemy emplacements.

Steve Koppenhoefer, a first lieutenant and Alvarado's platoon leader in the summer of '69, told The Californian Alvarado took his M60 machine gun and his ammo bearer and went after the enemy, breaking up the attack and saving many lives.

"Possibly including mine," recalled Koppenhoefer, who was awarded a Silver Star for his own actions that night.

As Alvarado and his ammo bearer moved forward, an enemy grenade exploded nearby, wounding and stunning him. According to the citation, Alvarado killed the soldier just as another enemy barrage wounded him again.

He began maneuvering forward alone. "Though repeatedly thrown to the ground by exploding satchel charges, he continued advancing and firing," the citation reads.

When Koppenhoefer saw Alvarado staggering back without his weapon, he ran out to help.

As green tracers zipped past, Koppenhoefer and another man pulled their wounded comrade to cover — but it was too late.

"I think the word 'hero' is overused," local attorney and U.S. Air Force veteran Randy Dickow told The Californian in 2014, the year he helped organize and raise money for a downtown memorial dedicated to Pierce and Alvarado.

The two men "are American heroes," Dickow said, "in the true sense of the word."