Mary Blanche Andrews Pearce was born on April 19, 1922, in Wayne, Montgomery County, Indiana, United States. Prior to her military service, she lived in West Bridgewater, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, with her parents, Willard Albert Andrews and Eva Andrews, and her three siblings. Her family background reflects a working-class household during the early twentieth century; her father was employed in general utility work. 
During World War II, Pearce enlisted in the United States Army on May 30, 1945. She served until November 17, 1946, attaining the rank of First Lieutenant. Her military service took place during the final phase of World War II and the immediate postwar period, a time when women continued to play critical roles in military operations and administrative support. 
Following her honorable discharge, Pearce relocated to California and later resided in Van Nuys, Los Angeles County. She married Ashley Meekins Pearce, a World War II veteran of the United States Coast Guard, for whom she was the second wife. 
Mary Blanche Andrews Pearce passed away on October 16, 2011. She was laid to rest at Los Angeles National Cemetery beside her husband, honoring the service of both veterans. 
This biography was researched and written by students as part of the Digital Veterans Legacy Project at Loyola Marymount University, funded by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the National Cemetery Administration. 

MARY ANDREWS PEARCE

Service

1LT

Resting Place

Mementos

Tributes

Word Cloud

undefined

Milestones

Mementos

Historical Documents

Veteran programs and services

More VA resources

Get VA updates

In crisis? Get help now

Contact us