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 Poolaw’s 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 Medal of Honor.
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
*The preceding content is not intended as a comprehensive biography, but it highlights their significance as a result of military or civilian distinction, lasting achievements, or association with impactful national events. This content was developed by Santa Fe Community College through a Veterans Legacy Program grant. *

First Sgt. Pascal Cleatus Poolaw Sr. served this country through three wars, and gave up his life in Vietnam.

Poolaw has been called America's most decorated American Indian Soldier with 42 medals and citations. Among his medals are four Silver Stars and five Bronze Stars. He also earned three Purple Hearts, one for each of the wars in which he fought - World War II, Korea, and Vietnam.

The fourth Silver Star was awarded posthumously after Poolaw died during action in Vietnam. On Nov. 7, 1967, Poolaw's unit, Company C, 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry, was part of a search and destroy mission near the village of Loc Ninh.

First Segeant Pascal Cleatus Poolaw Sr.
The unit was attacked by numerically superior Viet Cong force. Under a hail of fire, Poolaw raced to the lead squad, exposed all the way, and deployed the squad there to lay down a base of fire, the citation read. This action saved countless lives, but Poolaw wasn't finished.

Poolaw continued moving among the troops, making sure they were positioned properly pulling casualties back to the lines despite being wounded himself. He was mortally wounded as he pulled another casualty back to the lines.

His devotion to his Soldiers was exceeded only by the love of his Family. Poolaw served in Vietnam trying to spare his son the horrors of war.

When his son, Lindy, received orders for Vietnam, Poolaw volunteered for the combat zone with the hope of serving there in place of his son. Regulations prohibit two members of the same Family from serving in combat at the same time without their consent.

Another of Poolaw's sons had already been in Vietnam, which added to his wanting to spare Lindy. His son, Pascal Cleatus Poolaw Jr., a Spc. 4, had been wounded in Vietnam in February 1967. The younger Poolaw was hit by a mine and received metal fragments in the legs. His right leg had to be amputated below the knee.

When the senior Poolaw finally reached the port of departure on the West Coast, he discovered Lindy had left for Vietnam the day before. He decided to follow his son.

Having the father and son of the Family serving in combat at the same time was nothing new to Poolaw. He had served in World War II with his dad, Ralph Poolaw Sr., and his two brothers.

Poolaw served almost four months in Vietnam before the fatal combat operation. In a letter he wrote just before his death, Poolaw said he rated his job as being more important than his life.

In her eulogy at Poolaw's funeral at the Fort Sill Post Cemetery, his wife, Irene, echoed those sentiments. “He has followed the trail of the great chiefs,” she said. “His people hold him in honor and highest esteem. He has given his life for the people and the country he loved so much.” 

From: https://www.army.mil/nativeamericans/poolaw.html

The example of Poolaw's bravery and devotion lives on at Fort Sill, where he served for a year before going to Vietnam. Poolaw Hall at Sheridan Road was named after him and contains an exhibit dedicated to the American Indian Soldier.

Fort Sill Post Cemetery

PASCAL CLEATUS POOLAW SR's Profile Picture

PASCAL CLEATUS POOLAW SR

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