Noting recently that some of our nation's most decorated combat Veterans are not Medal of Honor recipients, I profiled Vietnam Veteran, Army Captain David Christian. Christian is the recipient of the second-highest military award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross, and also earned two Silver Stars, two Bronze Stars (V), and was wounded seven times, adding seven Purple Hearts to his record.
Another of our nation's most decorated soldiers is Army Veteran, 1SG Pascal Cleatus Poolaw. A full-blooded Kiowa from Oklahoma, Poolaw is the most decorated Native American soldier in U.S. history. He earned a Distinguished Service Cross, four Silver Stars, five Bronze Stars (V), and three Purple Hearts.
Pascal was born in Apache, Oklahoma, to parents Ralph Poolaw and Minnie Bointy. He married Irene Chalepah, and they had four sons, Lester, Pascal Jr., Lindy, and Donnie. Pascal followed his father and two brothers into the Army during World War II, and his four sons followed him into the Army during the Vietnam War.
In 1942, he enlisted to serve in World War II, assigned to Company M, 8th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, and earned his first of four Silver Stars in 1944 near Recogne, Belgium.
His citation notes:
While attacking in support of a rifle company, Sergeant Poolaw displaced his machine gun squad forward across an open field under heavy mortar and small arms fire in such a manner as to effect a minimum number of casualties among his squad. After reaching his new position, Sergeant Poolaw saw the enemy advance in a strong counterattack. Standing unflinchingly in the face of withering machine gun fire for five minutes, he hurled hand grenades until the enemy force sustained numerous casualties and was dispersed. Due to Sergeant Poolaw’s actions, many of his comrades’ lives were saved and the company was able to continue the attack and capture strongly defended enemy positions.
He then served in Korea, earning his second Silver Star in 1950 serving with Company C, 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division near Chongong-ni.
His citation notes:
When the company attack on an enemy position was halted by stiff enemy resistance, Sergeant First Class Poolaw volunteered to lead his squad in an assault. Courageously leading his men in a charge up the slope to penetrate the enemy perimeter and engage the numerically superior enemy in fierce hand-to-hand combat, Sergeant First Class Poolaw inspired his men to hold their position until the remainder of the company was able to seize the objective.
He also earned his third Silver Star in Korea in 1951 with Company C near Chongong-ni.
His citation notes:
While attacking strong hostile positions, one squad of Master Sergeant Poolaw’s platoon was immobilized by a devastating automatic weapons and mortar barrage. Exposing himself to the deadly fire, he slowly advanced across open terrain, firing his rifle as he progressed. By deliberately diverting the attention of the foe to himself, he enabled his men to maneuver to more advantageous positions.
(The wording for his Distinguished Service Cross citation is not indexed in a public military database.)
After Korea, Pascal retired with distinction in 1962, but in 1967, at age 45, he volunteered for service in Vietnam in an effort to keep his son, Lindy, from having to deploy. At the time, Army regulations prohibited members of the same family from serving in combat zones. After three of his sons had done combat tours in Vietnam, Pascal Jr. being seriously wounded, he wanted to keep his fourth out of country. He gave up his 2LT rank in order to serve in the field in combat.
In November, four months after arriving in Vietnam, Pascal was killed in action as he attempted to carry a wounded soldier to safety, earning the fourth Silver Star.
His citation notes:
Poolaw was accompanying his unit on a two-company search and destroy mission near Loc Ninh. As the patrol was moving through a rubber plantation, they were subjected to sniper fire. Within minutes, the area was raked with intensive claymore mine, rocket, small arms, and automatic weapons fire from a numerically superior Viet Cong force. First Sergeant Poolaw unhesitatingly ran to the lead squad which was receiving the brunt of the enemy fire. With complete disregard for his personal safety, he exposed himself to assist in deploying the men and establishing an effective base of fire. Although wounded, he continued to move about the area encouraging his men and pulling casualties to cover. He was assisting a wounded man to safety when he was mortally wounded by Viet Cong fire. His dynamic leadership and exemplary courage contributed significantly to the successful deployment of the lead squad and undoubtedly saved the lives of many of his fellow soldiers.
Being deployed to Vietnam did not prevent Pascal's son Lindy from being deployed. Lindy deployed before his father and wanted to serve our nation in combat. Pascal was killed 30 miles from where Lindy was serving, and he accompanied his father's body home.
His widow Irene remembered him saying, "I have a feeling I won’t come back alive." She added: "He has followed the trail of the great chiefs. His people hold him in highest esteem. He has given his life for the people and the country he loved so much."
At his funeral, one journalist noted: "In keeping with his heritage, he was a warrior. He fought for his country in three wars, from the beaches of Normandy and the plains of Germany to the frozen hills and rice paddies of Korea to the jungles of Vietnam."
MSG Donald Pruitt, (USA, Ret.), who served with Pascal, said of his friend: "A more dedicated soldier could never have been found than 1SG Poolaw. This nation owes this genuine hero a great debt of gratitude for his service and ultimate sacrifice of his life as he fought for and died attempting to save fellow servicemen. First Sergeant Poolaw will always be my hero."
Pascal joins his fellow Oklahoman, SP5 Dwight "Birdie" Birdwell, a Cherokee, among other highly decorated Native Americans.
He is buried at Fort Sill Post Cemetery in Lawton, Oklahoma, where he was stationed prior to his deployment to Vietnam.
1SG Pascal Cleatus Poolaw: An ordinary man faced with extraordinary circumstances, he summoned the greatest measure of courage to place his life in imminent peril to save others. His example of valor — a humble American Patriot defending Liberty for all above and beyond the call of duty — is eternal. Live your life worthy of his sacrifice.
"Greater love has no one than this, to lay down one's life for his friends." (John 15:13)
Join us in daily prayer for our Patriots in uniform — Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen — standing in harm’s way in defense of American Liberty, and for our nation's Veterans, First Responders, and their families.
(Read more Profiles of Valor here.)
Semper Vigilans Fortis Paratus et Fidelis
Pro Deo et Libertate — 1776
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