JAC Celebrates Life of WWII Navy Chief - Mentor to a Generation of JAC Sailors

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ROYAL AIR FORCE MOLESWORTH & ROYAL AIR FORCE ALCONBURY, England --  The old Chief beamed as young JAC Petty Officer Nicole Reddick told him "Chief, you are the saltiest salt I've ever met." When asked what was his favorite port of call during his many years at sea, Chief Pearson replied with a wink: "The last one and the one that we go to next."

Chief Radioman Joseph Pearson, U.S. Navy, landed under enemy fire on Omaha Beach on D-Day, June 6, 1944, aboard Landing Ship (Tank) 306. After landing troops, his ship retrieved British and American wounded and returned them to England. He retired from the Navy in May 1962 after completing 20 years of honorable Naval service. He married his British wife Maggie and settled down in the UK.

About ten years ago, a JAC Navy Chief noticed an older man standing outside the Base Exchange at RAF Lakenheath with the distinctive belt buckle of a Navy Chief. He went up to the man and addressed him as "Chief." The surprised Chief Pearson said it had been many, many years since anyone had called him that. 

Thus began a lasting bond between a generation of JAC sailors and Chief Joe Pearson. The Chief was invited to Navy events and even bought a new uniform to wear at JAC Navy Balls. He counseled new Chiefs during their initiation and told amazing sea stories to young sailors.

Chief Pearson passed away recently at the age of 85. JAC Commander, Marine Corps Colonel Peter H. Devlin, JAC Deputy Commander Navy Captain Henry J. "Harry" Babin,  and JAC Senior Enlisted Leader Navy Master Chief John C. Frakes led JAC Chiefs and sailors at services for Chief Pearson. 

The Chief's ashes were released into the sea off Normandy, France, per his wishes by the destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) on 7 June, the day after the 65th anniversary of his first vist to Normandy on D-Day 1944.  Navy Commander Mike Feyedelem, CO of the Porter, wrote to Master Chief Frakes: "It was honor to do this for Chief Pearson and his family. We rehearsed and pushed hard to get it done Sunday so it was as close to France as possible."

Col. Devlin recently received a touching card from Mrs. Maggie Pearson: "Thank you so very much for giving the tribute to Joe at the [Memorial] Service at the Bedford Crematorium. Many of the [British] civilians present had wanted to know about Joe's military service and were most interested in what you told them. Everyone was impressed with the uniforms and the Honor Guard - and particularly remarked on the fact that Joe's coffin was draped with the Stars and Stripes and later folded so meticulously before being presented to me. I felt so very proud, not only of my dear Joe, but also of Joe's friends in the United States military who so willingly carried out their various functions. Your involvement is so gratefully appreciated -- and I know everything that has happened in this, Joe's final journey, would have been so much more than he would have expected - a very big thank you, Maggie Pearson." 

Chief Radioman Joe Pearson, United States Navy (Retired), will be sorely missed.