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(Citation Needed)-SYNOPSIS: Thomas D Pollard (MCSN: 289992), United States Marine Corps, was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action at Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands on October 8, 1942.
NAVY CROSS
FIRST LIEUTENANT
THOMAS D POLLARD
MARINE CORPS RESERVE
CITATION:
The President Of the United Statesof Americatakes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to First Lieutenant Thomas D Pollard, United States Marine Corps Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company D, First Raider Battalion in action against the enemy at Enogai Point, New Georgia, Solomon Islands on 7, 8, 10, and 20 july 1943. He is credited with shooting four enemy snipes who were concealed in trees. Two days later his platoon was ordered to flank hostile machine-gun positions which held up the advance of two companies. Lieutenant Pollard led his platoon through the jungle to the enemy's flank and rear, knockes their gun positions out of action, killed many enemy and drove others into the sea. He then continued to lead the advance to the beach near Enogai Point where two machine- guns were captured.In later attacks against well entrenched forces defending Bairoko, his platoon penetrated enemy positions and advanced to within 200 yards of the harbor which was defended by a concentration of 90-mm mortar fire. The outstanding heroism and skill displayed by First Lieuentant Pollard on this occasion reflect highest credit upon himself andd the Armed Forces of the United States.
Guadalcanal Campaign (1942-43)/Battle of Tulagi (including First Savo)
From Month/Year
August / 1942
To Month/Year
August / 1942
Description
The Battle of Tulagi and Gavutu–Tanambogo was a land battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II, between the forces of the Imperial Japanese Navy and Allied (mainly United States (U.S.) Marine) ground forces. It took place from 7–9 August 1942 on the Solomon Islands, during the initial Allied landings in the Guadalcanal campaign.
In the battle, U.S. Marines, under the overall command of U.S. Major General Alexander Vandegrift, successfully landed and captured the islands of Tulagi, Gavutu, and Tanambogo among which the Japanese Navy had constructed a naval and seaplane base. The landings were fiercely resisted by the Japanese Navy troops who, outnumbered and outgunned by the Allied forces, fought and died almost to the last man.
At the same time that the landings on Tulagi and Gavutu–Tanambogo were taking place, Allied troops were also landing on nearby Guadalcanal, with the objective of capturing an airfield under construction by Japanese forces. In contrast to the intense fighting on Tulagi and Gavutu, the landings on Guadalcanal were essentially unopposed. The landings on both Tulagi and Guadalcanal initiated the six-month long Guadalcanal campaign and a series of combined-arms battles between Allied and Japanese forces in the Solomon Islands area.
