Following the Trail of Great Chiefs

1SG Pascal Cleatus Poolaw (1922-1967) was a Kiowa who served with the United States Army in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Born in Oklahoma, First Sergeant Poolaw is the United States’ most decorated Native American, with 42 medals and citations, including a Distinguished Service Cross, four Silver Stars, five Bronze Stars, as well as three Purple Hearts – one for each war.

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. He earned his first Silver Star for his actions near Recogne, Belgium, while serving in Company M, 8th Infantry Regiment, when he pushed his unit forward under heavy fire and hurled hand grenades at enemy machine guns until the enemy dispersed.

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

Although he retired in 1962, Poolaw decided to reenter the Army in an effort to keep his four sons, who were all in military service, from having to go to Vietnam. He was 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 Loc 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.

At his funeral his wife stated: “He has followed the trail of the great chiefs. The example of 1SG Poolaw’s bravery and devotion lives on at Fort Sill, Okaloma, 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.