John Robertson

Administrator
Staff member
  • SURNAME
VanPoll
  • FORENAME
Hubert Clarence
  • UNIT
5 SF Group (Company B,Det A-219) (2 M.S.F.C.)
  • RANK
Staff Sergeant
  • NUMBER
19488345​
  • DATE OF DEATH
15th June 1967
  • AGE
30
  • GRAVESITE
Willamette National Cemetery,Portland,Multnomah Company,Oregon Section S Site 3445
  • ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
from Cottage Grove,Oregon
born 2.12.1936 Aitkin,Minnesota
son of Cornelius Carroll Van Poll,Seattle,Washington (CPO USN,ret)
son of Gertrude Mae (nee Brown( and stepson of James H. Ladd,Cottage Grove,Oregon
single
entered service 12.8.1953
awards D.S.C.,Silver Star,Bronze Star with 2 oak leaf clusters
KIA Dak To,Kontum Province,South Vietnam
Vietnam Veterans Memorial,Washington,DC Panel 21E Line 110
Oregon Vietnam Veterans Living Memorial,Portland,Multnomah County,Oregon Alcove 2 Panel 15 Line 2
 

DATE OF DEATH:

15-Jun-1967

AWARD:

https://www.specialforcesroh.com/index.php?threads/vanpoll-hubert-clarence.31011/

CITATION:

Distinguished Service Cross : The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Staff Sergeant Hubert Clarence Van Poll (ASN: 19488345), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam as a member of Detachment A-219, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces. Staff Sergeant Van Poll distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 15 June 1967 while serving as Special Forces platoon leader of a Mike Force Company which was moving to relieve a beleaguered Vietnamese unit near Dak To. As Sergeant Van Poll's company moved along a heavily wooded trail, it received a sudden outburst of intense Viet Cong machine gun fire from concealed, fortified positions. When another American, who was leading a small element in counterattack, was hit, Sergeant Van Poll left his cover and, firing steadily, crawled toward the wounded man. Despite intense fire raking the ground all around him, he reached his comrade and administered first aid. He then picked up the wounded man and ran towards his own lines through a tremendous outburst of fire. Sergeant Van Poll was knocked to the ground by a grenade explosion, but struggled to his feet and reached a covered position. The insurgents' attack intensified and as Sergeant Van Poll was treating his comrade's wounds, he was mortally wounded himself, Staff Sergeant Van Poll's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, at the cost of his life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

Silver Star : The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 8, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Staff Sergeant Hubert Clarence Van Poll (ASN: 19488345), United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam. Staff Sergeant Van Poll distinguished himself by exceptionally valor action as a member of Detachment A-219, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces, on 1 May 1967, while serving as Special Forces advisor to a Vietnamese platoon during operations in the enemy controlled Dak Akoi Valley. When informed that a friendly unit was trapped by a well-armed North Vietnamese force, Sergeant Van Poll immediately organized elements of his platoon and led a mission to free the beleaguered unit. Heedless of the ravaging enemy fire, he maneuvered his troops into tactical positions and began delivering accurate fire into the hostile machine gun emplacements. He then led an advance and forced the enemy gunners to abandon their positions. Upon contact with the besieged unit, the friendly forces began receiving voluminous mortar fire which seriously wounded an American advisor. Sergeant Van Poll courageously charged through the onslaught of North Vietnamese fire to aid his wounded comrade. Disregarding his own safety, he pulled the man through the thick vegetation and hail of enemy bullets to safety. Sergeant Van Poll, realizing the growing danger to the friendly units, called in and directed air strikes on the North Vietnamese forces, driving them into retreat. His exemplary professionalism and determination were directly responsible for the prevention of extensive friendly casualties and the subsequent defeat of an enemy unit. Staff Sergeant Van Poll's gallantry in action was in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

WEB LINKS:

https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/4707
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