Pascal Poolaw: Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox military person |
{{Infobox military person |
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|width_style = person |
|width_style = person |
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|name = Pascal Poolaw |
|name = Pascal Poolaw |
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|image_upright = 1.2 |
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|image = Pascal C Poolaw Sr.jpg |
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|caption = Poolaw during the Korean War |
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|birth_name = Pascal Cleatus Poolaw |
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{{labeldata|[[Tribal nation|Native tribe]]|[[Kiowa Nation]]}} |
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|birth_place = [[Apache, Oklahoma]], U.S. |
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|birth_date = {{birth date|1922|01|22}} |
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|birth_place = [[Apache, Oklahoma]], U.S. |
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|death_place = {{nowrap|near [[Loc Ninh]], South Vietnam}} |
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|allegiance = {{flagu|United States}} |
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|branch = [[United States Army]] |
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|serviceyears_label = Service years |
|serviceyears_label = Service years |
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|serviceyears = 1942–1967 |
|serviceyears = 1942–1967 |
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|rank = First sergeant |
|rank = First sergeant |
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|unit_label = |
|unit_label = Regiments |
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|unit = {{plainlist| |
|unit = {{plainlist| |
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* [[8th Infantry Regiment (United States)|8th Infantry Regiment]] |
* [[8th Infantry Regiment (United States)|8th Infantry Regiment]] |
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* [[27th Infantry Regiment (United States)|27th Infantry Regiment]] |
* [[27th Infantry Regiment (United States)|27th Infantry Regiment]] |
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* [[26th Infantry Regiment (United States)|26th Infantry Regiment]]}} |
* [[26th Infantry Regiment (United States)|26th Infantry Regiment]]}} |
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|battles_label = Wars |
|battles_label = Wars |
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|battles = {{ubl|[[World War II]]|[[Korean War]]|[[Vietnam War]]{{KIA}}}} |
|battles = {{ubl|[[World War II]]|[[Korean War]]|[[Vietnam War]]{{KIA|alt=yes}}}} |
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|awards = {{plainlist| |
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* [[Distinguished Service Cross (United States)|Distinguished Service Cross]] |
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* [[Silver Star]] (4) |
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* [[Bronze Star Medal|Bronze Star]] (5) |
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* [[Purple Heart]] (3)}} |
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}} |
}} |
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'''Pascal Cleatus Poolaw |
'''Pascal Cleatus Poolaw''' (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 Americans in the United States|Native American]], with 42 medals and citations, including four [[Silver Star]]s, five [[Bronze Star Medal|Bronze Stars]], as well as three [[Purple Heart]]s – one for each war.<ref>{{cite web|title=Pascal C. Poolaw Sr.|url=https://www.army.mil/americanindians/poolaw.html|website=army.mil|series=American Indians in the U.S. Army|accessdate=2018-12-08|df=mdy-all|quote=Most decorated American Indian Soldier}}</ref> |
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== Early life == |
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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. |
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== Military career == |
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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 continued to serve in the [[Korean War]], where he earned two more Silver Stars and in July 1950, another Purple Heart,{{sfn|Meadows|2012|p=74}} before his return to the United States in 1952.{{sfn|Hall of Valor|2010}} He retired from the Army in 1962. |
He continued to serve in the [[Korean War]], where he earned two more Silver Stars, and in July 1950, another Purple Heart,{{sfn|Meadows|2012|p=74}} before his return to the United States in 1952.{{sfn|Hall of Valor|2010}} He retired from the Army in 1962. |
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Poolaw's 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 amputation|below the knee]]. Poolaw's 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. |
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Poolaw 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}} |
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== Legacy == |
== Legacy == |
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At his funeral |
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> |
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=== Awards |
=== Awards === |
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Poolaw was the recipient of the following military decorations and service medals:{{sfn|Struzinski|2012|p=9}}<center> |
Poolaw was the recipient of the following military decorations and service medals:{{sfn|Struzinski|2012|p=9}}<center> |
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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}} |
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|{{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}} |
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|{{ribbon devices|width=106|number=0|ribbon=Army Good Conduct Medal ribbon.svg{{!}}border}}<span style="display:inline-block; |
|{{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|90px|alt=Ribbon clasp|link=]]</span> |
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|- |
|- |
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|{{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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{|class=wikitable |
{|class=wikitable |
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|-valign=top |
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!Badge |
!Badge |
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|colspan=12 align=center|[[Combat Infantryman Badge]] |
|colspan=12 align=center|[[Combat Infantryman Badge]]<br />with two stars |
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|-valign=top |
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|- |
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!1st row |
!1st row |
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|colspan=4 align=center|[[Distinguished Service Cross (United States)|Distinguished Service Cross]] |
|colspan=4 align=center|[[Distinguished Service Cross (United States)|Distinguished Service Cross]] |
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|colspan=4 align=center|[[Silver Star Medal]]<br /> |
|colspan=4 align=center|[[Silver Star Medal]]<br />with [[oak leaf cluster]]s{{sfn|Hall of Valor|2010}} |
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|colspan=4 align=center|[[Bronze Star Medal]]<br /> |
|colspan=4 align=center|[[Bronze Star Medal]]<br />with [["V" device]] and [[oak leaf clusters]] |
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|-valign=top |
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|- |
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!2nd row |
!2nd row |
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|colspan=3 align=center|[[Purple Heart]]<br /> |
|colspan=3 align=center|[[Purple Heart]]<br />with oak leaf clusters |
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|colspan=3 align=center|[[Air Medal]] |
|colspan=3 align=center|[[Air Medal]] |
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|colspan=3 align=center|[[Army Commendation Medal]]<br /> |
|colspan=3 align=center|[[Army Commendation Medal]]<br />with [["V" device]] and [[oak leaf clusters]] |
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|colspan=3 align=center|[[Army Good Conduct Medal|Good Conduct Medal]]<br />{{nowr| |
|colspan=3 align=center|[[Army Good Conduct Medal|Good Conduct Medal]]<br />{{nowr|with [[good conduct loop]]s}} |
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|-valign=top |
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|- |
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!3rd row |
!3rd row |
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|colspan=3 align=center|[[American Campaign Medal]] |
|colspan=3 align=center|[[American Campaign Medal]] |
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|colspan=3 align=center|[[European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal|EAME Campaign Medal]]<br /> |
|colspan=3 align=center|[[European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal|EAME Campaign Medal]]<br />with [[arrowhead device|arrowhead]] and [[service star]] |
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|colspan=3 align=center|[[World War II Victory Medal]] |
|colspan=3 align=center|[[World War II Victory Medal]] |
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|colspan=3 align=center|[[Army of Occupation Medal]] |
|colspan=3 align=center|[[Army of Occupation Medal]] |
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|-valign=top |
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|- |
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!4th row |
!4th row |
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|colspan=3 align=center class=nowrap|[[National Defense Service Medal]]<br /> |
|colspan=3 align=center class=nowrap|[[National Defense Service Medal]]<br />with [[service star]] |
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|colspan=3 align=center|[[Korean Service Medal]]<br /> |
|colspan=3 align=center|[[Korean Service Medal]]<br />with [[service star]]s |
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|colspan=3 align=center|[[Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal]] |
|colspan=3 align=center|[[Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal]] |
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|colspan=3 align=center|[[Vietnam Service Medal]]<br /> |
|colspan=3 align=center|[[Vietnam Service Medal]]<br />with [[service star]]s |
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|-valign=top |
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|- |
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!5th row |
!5th row |
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|colspan=3 align=center|[[Korea Defense Service Medal]] |
|colspan=3 align=center|[[Korea Defense Service Medal]] |
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|colspan=3 align=center|[[United Nations Korea Medal|United Nations Service Medal]] |
|colspan=3 align=center|[[United Nations Korea Medal|United Nations Service Medal]] |
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|colspan=3 align=center|[[Vietnam Campaign Medal]]<br /> |
|colspan=3 align=center|[[Vietnam Campaign Medal]]<br />with "''60''–" clasp |
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|colspan=3 align=center|[[Republic of Korea War Service Medal|Korean War Service Medal]] |
|colspan=3 align=center|[[Republic of Korea War Service Medal|Korean War Service Medal]] |
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|-valign=top |
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|- |
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!6th row |
!6th row |
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|colspan=6 align=center|[[Presidential Unit Citation (United States)|Presidential Unit Citation]] |
|colspan=6 align=center|[[Presidential Unit Citation (United States)|Presidential Unit Citation]] |
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|colspan=6 align=center|[[Meritorious Unit Commendation]] |
|colspan=6 align=center|[[Meritorious Unit Commendation]] |
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|-valign=top |
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|- |
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!7th row |
!7th row |
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|colspan=4 align=center|[[Korea Presidential Unit Citation]] |
|colspan=4 align=center|[[Korea Presidential Unit Citation]] |
Revision as of 19:28, 18 July 2019
Pascal Poolaw | |
---|---|
![]() Poolaw during the Korean War | |
Birth name | Pascal Cleatus Poolaw |
Born | Apache, Oklahoma, U.S. | January 22, 1922
Died | November 7, 1967 near Loc Ninh, South Vietnam | (aged 45)
Buried | |
Allegiance | ![]() |
Branch | United States Army |
Service years | 1942–1967 |
Rank | First sergeant |
Regiments | |
Wars | |
Awards |
Pascal Cleatus Poolaw (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]
Early life
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.
Poolaw's 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. Poolaw's 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.
Poolaw 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
Poolaw was the recipient of the following military decorations and service medals:[6]
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Badge | Combat Infantryman Badge with two stars | |||||||||||
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1st row | Distinguished Service Cross | Silver Star Medal with oak leaf clusters[3] |
Bronze Star Medal with "V" device and oak leaf clusters | |||||||||
2nd row | Purple Heart with oak leaf clusters |
Air Medal | Army Commendation Medal with "V" device and oak leaf clusters |
Good Conduct Medal with good conduct loops | ||||||||
3rd row | American Campaign Medal | EAME Campaign Medal with arrowhead and service star |
World War II Victory Medal | Army of Occupation Medal | ||||||||
4th row | National Defense Service Medal with service star |
Korean Service Medal with service stars |
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal | Vietnam Service Medal with service stars | ||||||||
5th row | Korea Defense Service Medal | United Nations Service Medal | Vietnam Campaign Medal with "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
- ^ "Pascal C. Poolaw Sr". army.mil. American Indians in the U.S. Army. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
Most decorated American Indian Soldier
- ^ a b Meadows 2012, p. 74.
- ^ a b c d Hall of Valor 2010.
- ^ Ward & Burns 2017, p. 244.
- ^ "Kiowa citizen Pascal Cleatus Poolaw considered most decorated Indian soldier". Indianz.Com. November 7, 2017. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
- ^ Struzinski 2012, p. 9.
Sources
- Meadows, W. (2012). Kiowa Military Societies: Ethnohistory and Ritual. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press. ISBN 9780806186023.
{{cite book}}
: Invalid|ref=harv
(help) - "Pascal Cleatus Poolaw". Military Times. The Hall of Valor Project. Sightline Media Group. March 12, 2010. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
- "Poolaw, Pascal Cleatus, Sr., 1SG". Together We Served. Military Timeline. December 21, 2010. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
- Struzinski, F. (2012). "The Soldiers of Srok Rung" (PDF). Bridgehead Sentinel. Trenton: Society of the First Infantry Division. OCLC 11274165.
{{cite journal}}
: Invalid|ref=harv
(help) - Ward, G.; Burns, K. (2017). The Vietnam War: An Intimate History. New York: Doubleday. ISBN 9781524733100.
{{cite book}}
: Invalid|ref=harv
(help)
External links
This article incorporates public domain material from Pascal C. Poolaw Sr. United States Army.
- 1922 births
- 1967 deaths
- American army personnel of the Korean War
- American army personnel of the Vietnam War
- American army personnel of World War II
- American military personnel killed in the Vietnam War
- Kiowa people
- Military personnel from Oklahoma
- Native American United States military personnel
- People from Caddo County, Oklahoma
- Recipients of the Silver Star