Ann Marie Pearson

Ann Marie Pearson served in the United States Marine Corps and the New York Army National Guard. She was a Military Support Services Specialist and a Staff Sergeant.

Ms. Pearson enlisted into the United States Marine Corps on March 20, 1979 as a 3521 Heavy Diesel Mechanic. She was honorably discharged from the USMC in 1989 and joined the New York Army National Guard following her separation of service from the USMC.

On September 11, 2001, Ms. Pearson was called up as the SSG of the Guard’s 342nd Forward Support Battalion Company C, a medical unit which was crucial in providing emergency services in the area of the collapsed buildings, as well as to the emergency workers while also looking for survivors and remains. She participated in 9/11 and was also deployed to Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom.

Since her retirement, Ms. Pearson has traveled to communities across upstate New York to assist soldiers and their families. She has also fielded calls with hundreds of soldiers across the State and from 14 other states. She assisted with building and maintaining both a person-toperson and online network that has crossed the State and Nation at her own expense. Not one to take any time off, Ms. Pearson shows up every day for the soldiers and military families who need her assistance.

Ms. Pearson earned an Associate degree in Humanities/Humanistic Studies from Erie County Community College and a Bachelor’s in Fine/Studio Arts from Buffalo State. She attended Basic Auto Mechanic Course, Marine NCO Academy; Marine Corps Integrated Management Course; Personal Finance Course; Senior Clerk Course at Camp Lejeune, NC. While in the Guard, she attended Combat Medical School, NREMT courses, CPR course and recertification course, Personnel Admin school, Readiness and Training course and the ATRRS course.

Ms. Pearson served a total of 32 years and achieved numerous awards and decorations including: the Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal; Rifle Marksmanship Badge; Sea Service Deployment Ribbon w/ 1 star; Good Conduct Medal w/ 2 stars; Meritorious Mast (3); Navy Unit Commendation; Navy Achievement Medal; Letter of Appreciation (2); and Meritorious Unit citation. She also earned the Combat Action Badge; Afghanistan Campaign medal w/ campaign star; Army commendation medal; Army achievement medal; Army good conduct medal; National Defense Service Medal (2); Global War on Terrorism medal; Army Services Ribbon; Armed Forces Reserve Medal w/ M device; NATO Ribbon; NY Defense of Liberty Medal; Armed Forces Reserve Medal; and NY Long and Faithful Service Medal.