Colonel Billy L. Pierce was commissioned a Field Artillery Officer upon graduation from Officer Candidate School Class 2-74, 16 August 1974. His first duty assignment was a Forward Observer, Charlie Battery, 4th Battalion, 114th Field Artillery, Morton, Mississippi. | His subsequent duty assignments include: Fire Direction Officer, Executive Officer and Commander, Charlie Battery; 4th Battalion, 114th Field Artillery, Morton, Mississippi; Commander, Service Battery, 4th Battalion, 114th Field Artillery, Decatur, Mississippi; Battalion Logistics, Intelligence, Operations, Executive Officer and Battalion Commander, 4th Battalion, 114th Field Artillery, Newton, Mississippi; Operations Officer and Chief of Staff, 66th Troop Command, Jackson, Mississippi; Operations and Executive Officer, 631st Field Artillery Brigade, Grenada, Mississippi; Chief of Staff, 66th Troop Command, Jackson, Mississippi; Commander, 631st Field Artillery Brigade, Grenada, Mississippi; Deputy Commander, 184th Transportation Command Element, Laurel, Mississippi. | Colonel Pierce's military awards and decorations include: the Legion of Merit, Mississippi Emergency Service Medal, Mississippi War Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Overseas Deployment Medal, Humanitarian Medal, Army Commendation Medal, and Meritorious Service Medal, Mississippi Magnolia Medal, Mississippi Magnolia Cross.