| Daniel Carroll Pollock | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 27, 1913 |
| Died | December 23, 2007 (aged 93) |
| Place of birth | Washington, D.C. |
| Place of death | McLean, Virginia |
| Buried at | Arlington National Cemetery |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/branch | United States Marine Corps |
| Rank |
 Colonel |
| Commands held | 1st Battalion, 26th Marines |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards |
Navy Cross Purple Heart |
Daniel Carroll Pollock (December 27, 1913 – December 23, 2007) was a highly decorated United States Marine Corps colonel. He was awarded the Navy Cross during the battle of Iwo Jima in World War II.
Early life and career[]
Daniel C. Pollock was born on December 27, 1913, in Washington, D.C. He attended Central High School where he was a member of the Cadet Corps, graduating in 1931 as valedictorian. He then attended the United States Military Academy at West Point and George Washington University before he enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1936.[1] Pollock was later commissioned as a second lieutenant.
World War II[]
In 1944, Lieutenant Colonel Pollock was given command of the newly formed 1st Battalion, 26th Marines, 5th Marine Division at San Diego, California.[2] In September 1944, Pollock and the rest of the 5th Marine Division left San Diego for Camp Tarawa, Hawaii. In January 1945, the division left Camp Tarawa, stopping for a brief liberty at Pearl Harbor. On January 10, Pollock's battalion left Pearl Harbor aboard the USS Deuel (APA-160) and began sailing west across the Pacific Ocean bound for Iwo Jima.[3][4]
On February 8, Captain Robert H. Dunlap, the commanding officer of Company C, brought Private First Class Jack H. Lucas to Pollock's quarters. Lucas had deserted his unit to join an infantry company and stowed away on the ship. Pollock was impressed by Lucas' determination to fight and said "you're causing me a lot of administrative trouble, but I sure wish I had a whole boatload of men that wanted to fight as bad as you do." Pollock then had Lucas assigned to Dunlap's rifle company, not realizing Lucas was only 16 years old.[5] Both Lucas[6] and Dunlap[7] would later be awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions during the battle of Iwo Jima.
Battle of Iwo Jima[]
At 09:00 hours on February 19, elements of the 4th and 5th Marine Divisions assaulted the beaches of Iwo Jima. The 26th Marine Regiment, as the 5th Division's reserve, did not initially land at H-Hour. However, they were soon needed as the initial landing waves took heavy casualties. Pollock and his battalion landed at Red Beach at 15:00 hours.[8]
By March 19, Pollock's battalion had been reduced to a fighting strength of just over 400 Marines, down from its original strength of 1,000 men on D-Day. The remaining Marines under his charge were fatigued from five consecutive days of combat against heavily fortified positions in rugged terrain at Kitano Point. Despite heavy fire, Pollock moved to the front line and conducted a reconnaissance of Hill 165, the last high ground held by the Japanese on the island.[1]
Pollock then led his battalion in an assault against the enemy positions behind Hill 165, enveloping the hill. Japanese forces on the hill became disorganized and attempted to withdraw, only to be cut down by Pollock's Marines. He then directed his Marines in capturing and occupying the hill with minimal casualties. Upon capturing the hill, the Marines raised an American flag.[9] Shortly after, Pollock led a small patrol into unexplored northern beach areas near the enemy's last defended strongholds.[1]
Pollock was then evacuated from the island due to wounds he received during the assault. His executive officer, Major Albert Gary, assumed command for the duration of the battle.[2][10] For his actions that day, Pollock was later awarded the Navy Cross in 1946.[1]
Later career and life[]
When the war ended, Pollock became one of the first Americans to lead Marines onto the Japanese mainland. Pollock remained in the Marines until his retirement as a colonel in the mid 1960s. His final assignment was with the plans and policies directorate of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Upon retirement, Pollock settled in McLean, Virginia. He became active in his community, volunteering for the American Red Cross and numerous organizations in McLean and the nearby town of Herndon. Pollock was also the 5th Marine Division's representative to the National Marine Corps Council and was instrumental in planning the Marine Corps' remembrances for the 45th and 50th anniversaries of the battle of Iwo Jima.
Daniel C. Pollock died of sepsis on December 23, 2007, at his home in McLean. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Daniel C. Pollock". Military Times. https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/7559.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Iwo Jima". ibiblio. https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USMC/USMC-M-IwoJima/USMC-M-IwoJima-IV.html.
- ↑ Lucas & Drum 2006, p. 84.
- ↑ Bradley 2006, pp. 189–192.
- ↑ Lucas & Drum 2006, pp. 89–90.
- ↑ "Jacklyn Harrell Lucas". Military Times. https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/1427.
- ↑ "Robert Hugo Dunlap". Military Times. https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/2758.
- ↑ Lucas & Drum 2006, p. 108.
- ↑ "The Final Phase". ibiblio. https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USMC/USMC-M-IwoJima/USMC-M-IwoJima-9.html.
- ↑ "The Battle of Iwo Jima". 5th Marine Division.com. http://www.5thmarinedivision.com/the-battle-of-iwo-jima.html.
Bibliography[]
- Bradley, James (2006) [2000]. Flags of Our Fathers. New York: Bantam. ISBN 978-0-553-38415-4.
- Lucas, Jack H.; Drum, D. K. (2006). Indestructible: The Unforgettable Story of a Marine Hero at the Battle of Iwo Jima. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Da Capo Press. ISBN 0-306-81470-6. OCLC 68175700. https://archive.org/details/indestructibleun00luca.
External links[]
- Daniel C. Pollock at Find a Grave