2ND Lieutenant, U.S. Army, Pascal Cleatus Poolaw
Born: 29 January 1922, Apache, Oklahoma
Died: 7 November 1967, Vietnam
Burial Site: Fort Still Post Cemetery, Oklahoma
Awards
Lt. Poolaw, a full-blooded Kiowa, was born on January 22, 1922, in Apache, Oklahoma. Poolaw served in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. He was the most decorated Native American soldier in U.S. history, receiving 4 Silver Stars, 5 Bronze Stars, and 3 Purple Hearts. He earned a total of 42 medals and citations. With the outbreak of World War II, Poolaws father and brother enlisted, shortly thereafter he joined the war. While fighting in Belgium (Operation Market Garden) he earned his first Silver Star, while serving with Company M, 8th Infantry Regiment. Poolaw also fought at Normandy. In Korea, Poolaw earned two Silver Stars, and was awarded a battlefield commission to Second Lt. Under hostile fire, “he courageously led his men to penetrate the enemy perimeter and fought hand-to-hand combat.”1 Poolaw died on the battlefield in the Republic of Vietnam on November 7th, 1967, while serving with Company C, 26th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division.1 Poolaws 4th Silver Star was awarded posthumously after his death in Vietnam. One source describes his final battle. Poolaw was with his unit, that was on a mission near the village of Loc Ninh. His unit came under fire from North Vietnamese soldiers, “under a hail of fire, Poolaw raced to lead the squad.”2 Poolaw was able to provide counter fire against the enemy, saving many men in his unit. Poolaw then moved up and down his unit’s line to check on wounded soldiers. While pulling a fellow wounded soldier to a safe position, he was mortally wounded. All four of his sons served in the U.S. armed forces.3 At his funeral his wife was reported to make the following statement about her husband, “he has followed the trails of the great chiefs, his people hold him in honor, and high regard, he has given his life for his people and country who he loved so much.”4 It can be said that Pascal Poolaw is arguably one of the greatest soldiers in American history to not be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.
Images & Documents
Notes:
1. National Veterans Memorial and Museum, Native American Voices: First Sergeant Pascal Poolaw, November 28th, 2022.
2. Native Americans in the U.S. Army, Pascal Poolaw
3. IBID, Native American in U.S. Army
4. 1st Lt. Pascal C. Poolaw: Should be a Medal of Honor Recipient (Jerry Skinner You Tube Documentary)
5. Ancestry.com, All newspaper articles for Pascal Poolaw
Photos by Find A Grave.com, and Ancestry.com, 2ND Lieutenant, U.S. Army, Pascal Cleatus Poolaw
Prepared by Steve Martinez, Santa Fe Community College, VLGP