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|image = Pascal C Poolaw Sr.jpg
|image = Pascal C Poolaw Sr.jpg
|caption = Poolaw during the Korean War
|caption = Poolaw during the Korean War
|birth_name = Pascal Cleatus Poolaw Sr.
|birth_name = Pascal Cleatus Poolaw
|birth_date = {{dob|1922|01|22}}
|birth_date = {{birth date|1922|01|22}}
|birth_place = [[Apache, Oklahoma]], U.S.
|birth_place = [[Apache, Oklahoma]], U.S.
|death_date = {{dda|1967|11|7|1922|01|22}}
|death_date = {{death date and age|1967|11|7|1922|01|22}}
|death_place = {{nowr|near [[Loc Ninh]], South Vietnam}}
|death_place = {{nowrap|near [[Loc Ninh]], South Vietnam}}
|placeofburial = [[Fort Sill National Cemetery]]
|placeofburial = [[Fort Sill National Cemetery]]
|allegiance = {{flagu|United States}}
|allegiance = {{flagu|United States}}
|branch_label = Branch
|branch_label = Branch
|branch = {{flagi|Flag of the United States Army.svg}} [[United States Army]]
|branch = {{flagi|Flag of the United States Army.svg|size=23px}} [[United States Army]]
|serviceyears_label = Service years
|serviceyears_label = Service years
|serviceyears = 1942–1967
|serviceyears = 1942–1967
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* [[26th Infantry Regiment (United States)|26th Infantry Regiment]]}}
* [[26th Infantry Regiment (United States)|26th Infantry Regiment]]}}
|battles_label = Wars
|battles_label = Wars
|battles = {{plainlist|
|battles = {{ubl|[[World War II]]|[[Korean War]]|[[Vietnam War]]{{KIA}}}}
* [[World War II]] {{small|(1943–1945)}}
* [[Korean War]] {{small|(1950–1952)}}
* [[Vietnam War]] {{small|(1967)}}{{KIA}}}}
|awards = {{plainlist|
* [[Silver Star Medal|Silver Star]] (4)
* [[Bronze Star Medal|Bronze Star]] (5)
* [[Distinguished Service Cross (United States)|Distinguished Service Cross]]}}
}}
}}


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Pascal Poolaw was born in [[Apache, Oklahoma]], to Ralph Emerson Poolaw and Minnie Monetathchi Bointy. He married Irene Chalepah on March 15, 1940, and had four sons: Lester, Pascal Jr., Lindy, and Donnie.
Pascal Poolaw was born in [[Apache, Oklahoma]], to Ralph Emerson Poolaw and Minnie Monetathchi Bointy. He married Irene Chalepah on March 15, 1940, and had four sons: Lester, Pascal Jr., Lindy, and Donnie.


=== Military career ===
In 1942, Poolaw joined his father and two brothers in [[World War II]]. He earned his first [[Purple Heart]] when he was wounded in September 1944.{{sfn|Meadows|2012|p=74}} He earned his first [[Silver Star]] for his actions [[Bastogne|near Recogne]], Belgium, while serving in the [[8th Infantry Regiment (United States)|8th Infantry Regiment]]'s M Company, when he pushed his unit forward under heavy fire and hurled hand grenades at enemy machine guns until the enemy dispersed.{{sfn|Hall of Valor|2010}}
In 1942, Poolaw joined his father and two brothers in [[World War II]]. He earned his first [[Purple Heart]] when he was wounded in September 1944.{{sfn|Meadows|2012|p=74}} He earned his first [[Silver Star]] for his actions [[Bastogne|near Recogne]], Belgium, while serving in the [[8th Infantry Regiment (United States)|8th Infantry Regiment]]'s M Company, when he pushed his unit forward under heavy fire and hurled hand grenades at enemy machine guns until the enemy dispersed.{{sfn|Hall of Valor|2010}}


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He decided to follow his son to Vietnam and was deployed on May 31, 1967, as the first sergeant of the [[26th Infantry Regiment (United States)|26th Infantry Regiment]]'s C Company. On November 7, while on a search and destroy mission during the [[First Battle of Lộc Ninh]], Poolaw and his unit were ambushed by the [[Viet Cong]]. He was killed while attempting to pull a unit casualty to safety and posthumously awarded a fourth Silver Star.{{sfn|Hall of Valor|2010}}
He decided to follow his son to Vietnam and was deployed on May 31, 1967, as the first sergeant of the [[26th Infantry Regiment (United States)|26th Infantry Regiment]]'s C Company. On November 7, while on a search and destroy mission during the [[First Battle of Lộc Ninh]], Poolaw and his unit were ambushed by the [[Viet Cong]]. He was killed while attempting to pull a unit casualty to safety and posthumously awarded a fourth Silver Star.{{sfn|Hall of Valor|2010}}


⚫
== Legacy ==
At his funeral, his wife stated: "He has followed the trail of the great chiefs."{{sfn|Ward|Burns|2017|p=244}} A building at the U.S. Army base in [[Fort Sill]] in [[Lawton, Oklahoma]], where he was stationed prior to his deployment to Vietnam, is named in his honor.<ref>{{cite news|title=Kiowa citizen Pascal Cleatus Poolaw considered most decorated Indian soldier|url=https://www.indianz.com/News/2017/11/07/kiowa-citizen-pascal-cleatus-poolaw-cons.asp|newspaper=Indianz.Com|date=2017-11-07|accessdate=2018-02-02|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
At his funeral, his wife stated: "He has followed the trail of the great chiefs."{{sfn|Ward|Burns|2017|p=244}} A building at the U.S. Army base in [[Fort Sill]] in [[Lawton, Oklahoma]], where he was stationed prior to his deployment to Vietnam, is named in his honor.<ref>{{cite news|title=Kiowa citizen Pascal Cleatus Poolaw considered most decorated Indian soldier|url=https://www.indianz.com/News/2017/11/07/kiowa-citizen-pascal-cleatus-poolaw-cons.asp|newspaper=Indianz.Com|date=2017-11-07|accessdate=2018-02-02|df=mdy-all}}</ref>


== Awards and honors ==
=== Awards and decorations ===
Poolaw was the recipient of the following military decorations and service medals:{{sfn|Struzinski|2012|p=9}}
Poolaw was the recipient of the following military decorations and service medals:{{sfn|Struzinski|2012|p=9}}<center>
<center>
{|
{|
|colspan=4 align=center|[[File:CIB3.gif|206px|alt=]]
|colspan=4 align=center|[[File:CIB3.gif|206px|alt=]]
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|{{ribbon devices|width=106|number=0|ribbon=Air Medal ribbon.svg{{!}}border}}
|{{ribbon devices|width=106|number=0|ribbon=Air Medal ribbon.svg{{!}}border}}
|{{ribbon devices|width=106|number=2|ribbon=Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg{{!}}border|type=oak|other_device=v}}
|{{ribbon devices|width=106|number=2|ribbon=Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg{{!}}border|type=oak|other_device=v}}
|{{ribbon devices|width=106|number=0|ribbon=Army Good Conduct Medal ribbon.svg{{!}}border}}<span style="display:inline-block; position:relative; left:-100px; top:0px; width:0;">[[File:gcl-08.png|92px|alt=]]</span>
|{{ribbon devices|width=106|number=0|ribbon=Army Good Conduct Medal ribbon.svg{{!}}border}}<span style="display:inline-block; position:relative; left:-100px; top:0px; width:0;">[[File:gcl-08.png|92px|alt=Ribbon clasp]]</span>
|-
|-
|{{ribbon devices|width=106|number=0|ribbon=American Campaign Medal ribbon.svg{{!}}border}}
|{{ribbon devices|width=106|number=0|ribbon=American Campaign Medal ribbon.svg{{!}}border}}
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|colspan=4 align=center|{{ribbon devices|width=106|number=0|ribbon=Korean Presidential Unit Citation.png{{!}}border}} {{ribbon devices|width=106|number=0|ribbon=Presidential Unit Citation Vietnam (Army sized).png{{!}}border}} {{ribbon devices|width=106|number=0|ribbon=Gallantry Cross Unit Citation.png{{!}}border}}
|colspan=4 align=center|{{ribbon devices|width=106|number=0|ribbon=Korean Presidential Unit Citation.png{{!}}border}} {{ribbon devices|width=106|number=0|ribbon=Presidential Unit Citation Vietnam (Army sized).png{{!}}border}} {{ribbon devices|width=106|number=0|ribbon=Gallantry Cross Unit Citation.png{{!}}border}}
|}
|}

{|class=wikitable
{|class=wikitable
!Badge
!Badge
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|}</center>
|}</center>


== See also ==
== Footnotes ==
* [[The Vietnam War (TV series)|''The Vietnam War'' (TV series)]]

⚫
== Notes ==
{{reflist|30em}}
{{reflist|30em}}


== Sources ==
=== Sources ===
{{refbegin}}
*{{cite book
*{{cite book
|last = Meadows
|last = Meadows
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|publisher = University of Oklahoma Press
|publisher = University of Oklahoma Press
|isbn = 9780806186023
|isbn = 9780806186023
|ref = harv}}
|ref = harv
}}
*{{cite web
*{{cite web
|title = Pascal Cleatus Poolaw
|title = Pascal Cleatus Poolaw
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|date = 2010-03-12|df=mdy-all
|date = 2010-03-12|df=mdy-all
|accessdate = 2018-12-09
|accessdate = 2018-12-09
|ref = {{sfnref|Hall of Valor|2010}}}}
|ref = {{sfnref|Hall of Valor|2010}}
}}
*{{cite web
*{{cite web
|title = Poolaw, Pascal Cleatus, Sr., 1SG
|title = Poolaw, Pascal Cleatus, Sr., 1SG
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|accessdate = 2018-12-08|df=mdy-all
|accessdate = 2018-12-08|df=mdy-all
|date = 2010-12-21
|date = 2010-12-21
|ref = {{sfnref|Together We Served|2010}}}}
|ref = {{sfnref|Together We Served|2010}}
}}
*{{cite journal
*{{cite journal
|last = Struzinski
|last = Struzinski
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|publisher = Society of the First Infantry Division
|publisher = Society of the First Infantry Division
|oclc = 11274165
|oclc = 11274165
|ref = harv}}
|ref = harv
}}
*{{cite book
*{{cite book
|last1 = Ward
|last1 = Ward
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|publisher = Doubleday
|publisher = Doubleday
|isbn = 9781524733100
|isbn = 9781524733100
|ref = harv}}
|ref = harv
}}
{{refend}}


== External links ==
== External links ==
* {{Find a Grave|21687835|Pascal Cleatus Poolaw}}
* {{find a grave|21687835|Pascal Cleatus Poolaw}}


{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}

Revision as of 21:15, 14 April 2019

Pascal Poolaw
Poolaw during the Korean War
Birth namePascal Cleatus Poolaw
Born(1922-01-22)January 22, 1922
Apache, Oklahoma, U.S.
DiedNovember 7, 1967(1967-11-07) (aged 45)
near Loc Ninh, South Vietnam
Buried
Fort Sill National Cemetery
Allegiance United States
Branch United States Army
Service years1942–1967
RankFirst sergeant
Units
Wars

Pascal Cleatus Poolaw Sr. (January 22, 1922 – November 7, 1967) was a Kiowa who served with the United States Army in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. He is the United States' most decorated Native American, with 42 medals and citations, including four Silver Stars, five Bronze Stars, as well as three Purple Hearts – one for each war.[1]

Biography

Pascal Poolaw was born in Apache, Oklahoma, to Ralph Emerson Poolaw and Minnie Monetathchi Bointy. He married Irene Chalepah on March 15, 1940, and had four sons: Lester, Pascal Jr., Lindy, and Donnie.

Military career

In 1942, Poolaw joined his father and two brothers in World War II. He earned his first Purple Heart when he was wounded in September 1944.[2] He earned his first Silver Star for his actions near Recogne, Belgium, while serving in the 8th Infantry Regiment's M Company, when he pushed his unit forward under heavy fire and hurled hand grenades at enemy machine guns until the enemy dispersed.[3]

He continued to serve in the Korean War, where he earned two more Silver Stars and in July 1950, another Purple Heart,[2] before his return to the United States in 1952.[3] He retired from the Army in 1962.

His son Pascal Jr. had also joined the army and was serving in the Vietnam War in February 1967, when he got wounded in both legs by a landmine and had to have his right leg amputated below the knee. His youngest son Lindy was also drafted and set to deploy to Vietnam shortly. Poolaw rejoined the Army to prevent Lindy from having to serve by taking his place. Lindy had already shipped out and Poolaw had hoped to catch up with him in time, but when he arrived on the West Coast he discovered his son had already left the day before.

He decided to follow his son to Vietnam and was deployed on May 31, 1967, as the first sergeant of the 26th Infantry Regiment's C Company. On November 7, while on a search and destroy mission during the First Battle of Lộc Ninh, Poolaw and his unit were ambushed by the Viet Cong. He was killed while attempting to pull a unit casualty to safety and posthumously awarded a fourth Silver Star.[3]

Legacy

At his funeral, his wife stated: "He has followed the trail of the great chiefs."[4] A building at the U.S. Army base in Fort Sill in Lawton, Oklahoma, where he was stationed prior to his deployment to Vietnam, is named in his honor.[5]

Awards and decorations

Poolaw was the recipient of the following military decorations and service medals:[6]

Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
V
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
V
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
 Ribbon clasp
Arrowhead
Silver star
Silver star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Badge Combat Infantryman Badge w/ two stars
1st row Distinguished Service Cross Silver Star Medal
w/ oak leaf clusters[3] 		Bronze Star Medal
w/ "V" device and oak leaf clusters
2nd row Purple Heart
w/ oak leaf clusters 		Air Medal Army Commendation Medal
w/ "V" device and oak leaf clusters 		Good Conduct Medal
w/ good conduct loops
3rd row American Campaign Medal EAME Campaign Medal
w/ arrowhead and service star 		World War II Victory Medal Army of Occupation Medal
4th row National Defense Service Medal Korean Service Medal
w/ service stars 		Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Vietnam Service Medal
w/ service stars
5th row Korea Defense Service Medal United Nations Service Medal Vietnam Campaign Medal
w/ "60–" clasp 		Korean War Service Medal
6th row Presidential Unit Citation Meritorious Unit Commendation
7th row Korea Presidential Unit Citation Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation

Footnotes

  1. ^ "Pascal C. Poolaw Sr". army.mil. American Indians in the U.S. Army. Retrieved December 8, 2018. Most decorated American Indian Soldier
  2. ^ a b Meadows 2012, p. 74.
  3. ^ a b c d Hall of Valor 2010.
  4. ^ Ward & Burns 2017, p. 244.
  5. ^ "Kiowa citizen Pascal Cleatus Poolaw considered most decorated Indian soldier". Indianz.Com. November 7, 2017. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
  6. ^ Struzinski 2012, p. 9.

Sources


Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from Pascal C. Poolaw Sr. United States Army.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pascal_Poolaw&oldid=892484421"