IRVING MOY
presents
"An American Journey: The Life and Times of Joseph Pierce"
About the Topic:
A common misconception of the Civil War is that it was fought exclusively by white Anglo-Saxons. But many ethnic groups took part in this great struggle. Few people are aware that the Chinese were among them and the highest-ranking was Corporal Joseph Pierce, a member of Co. F, 14th Regiment Connecticut Volunteer Infantry.
Sold at the age of 10 for 6 silver dollars and brought back to Connecticut by a sea captain, Joseph Pierce fought for the cause of the Union and survived the Civil War. He then abandoned farming to become a silver engraver, married out of love, and raised a family despite discriminatory exclusion laws. The story of Joseph Pierce is a microcosm of this country’s immigration story.
A copy of Mr. Moy's slide deck is available HERE (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_KvOWx39lSGuDOChfjtwE0Kd_RoJjeH_/view) and a copy of the handouts provided for his presentation are available HERE (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QA0mnkgqGFwgzt1iyaZkjm7G1DKad4-K/view).
Irving Moy portrays the Chinese Civil War soldier Corporal Joseph Pierce, Co. F, 14th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry at reenactments and at living history events. In 2009, he authored, “An American Journey; Joseph Pierce, Lincoln, My Father and Me” (available from Lulu.com at https://www.lulu.com/shop/irving-moy/an-american-journey/paperback/product-14nnd6mn.html?q=irving+moy&page=1&pageSize=4
An Abraham Lincoln enthusiast and collector, Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell appointed Mr. Moy in July 2008 to serve as 1 of the 15 members on the 2009 Connecticut Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission. In 2013, the National Park Service (NPS) asked him to serve as an advisor for its publication, “Asians and Pacific Islanders and the Civil War," available at https://americasnationalparks.org/asians-and-pacific-islanders-in-the-civil-war/. In extending its invitation, Carol Shively, project supervisor, wrote, “What a story. Plunking a man from relative obscurity and finally giving him the honor he is due. This is such an important work you have done. We (NPS) and the nation are indebted to you.”
Mr. Moy retired as a Public Health Services Manager after a thirty-year career in healthcare regulation with the Connecticut State Department of Public Health.
