Herbert Edward Pace, Jr.
First Lieutenant, U.S. Army

On 12 April 1942, First Lieutenant Herbert Edward Pace, Jr. was serving with Battery C, 60th Coast Artillery Regiment (Anti-Aircraft), U.S. Army, on Corregidor, Philippine Islands. When a battery position was subjected to heavy Japanese artillery and aerial bombardment, several men were wounded and buildings and ammunition were set afire. Although enemy artillery shells continued to fall in the area, 1LT Pace left his place of cover and supervised the treatment and evacuation of casualties. 1LT Pace then extinguished fires throughout the area and saved valuable supplies and equipment from destruction. Later, when the battery was again shelled and bombed, resulting in many casualties and further damage, 1LT Pace repeated his heroic actions by aiding the wounded and extinguishing ammunition fires. 1LT Pace's courageous actions, inspiring leadership, and devotion to duty, rendered invaluable aid to the defenses of Corregidor. 1LT Pace's actions that day earned him the U.S. Army's third highest award for valor, the Silver Star Medal.

On 28 April 1942, 1LT Pace's unit was still fighting on Corregidor, Philippine Islands, when the Japanese directed an intense concentration of artillery fire on the antiaircraft battery at Fort Mills, putting it out of action. Although the order was given to withdraw from the position, 1LT Pace remained exposed to the heavy barrage and, through timing and spacing their movement with unerring judgement, he directed the evacuation of the gun crews to safety. When the action was over, 1LT Pace was found dead at his post, which he had refused to abandon until the last man had been successfully evacuated. 1LT Pace's outstanding leadership under fire saved the lives of many of his men and greatly aided in the heroic defense of Corregidor. 1LT Pace’s courageous actions and extraordinary heroism that day earned him, at the cost of his life, the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Medals and Awards

Distinguished Service Cross
Silver Star Medal
Purple Heart
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with Bronze Star
World War II Victory Medal
Philippine Defense Medal
Presidential Unit Citation with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

First Lieutenant (Coast Artillery Corps) Herbert Edward Pace, Jr. (ASN: 0-22914), United States Army, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Battery C, 60th Coast Artillery Regiment (Anti-Aircraft), in action against enemy forces on 28 April 1942, in the Philippine Islands. When the enemy directed an intense artillery concentration at the antiaircraft battery on Fort Mills, putting it out of action, the order was given to withdraw from the position, but Lieutenant Pace, Battery C. 60th Coast Artillery (Antiaircraft) Regiment, remained exposed to the heavy barrage, and with utter disregard for his own safety, directed the evacuation of the gun crews to safety, timing and spacing their movement with unerring judgement. When the action was over, he was found dead at his post which he had refused to abandon union last man had been successfully evacuated. By his coolness and outstanding leadership under fire at the cost of his life, Lieutenant Pace aided in saving the lives of many of his comrades and set an inspiring example of courage during the heroic defense of Corregidor. First Lieutenant Pace's intrepid actions, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

Headquarters, U.S. Forces-Pacific, General Orders No. 255 (1945)

Honors

First Lieutenant Herbert Edward Pace, Jr. was honored by the naming of a public building for him, Pace Hall, at Fort Bliss, El Paso, TX.

Burial

First Lieutenant Herbert Edward Pace, Jr. is buried at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines in Plot A, Row 2, Grave 179.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56750013/herbert-edward-pace