John William Pearce was born on May 22, 1893, in Goldsboro, North Carolina. Pearce was a farmer in Princeton, North Carolina, when he registered for the draft (World War I) in June 1917. He was subsequently inducted into the service in September 1917 and served with the 322nd Infantry. He deserted his unit around January 1918 and returned to it in July 1918. On May 3, 1919, he was dishonorably discharged from the service. Pearce died in Johnston County, North Carolina, on January 15, 1943.