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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.
Northern Solomon Islands Campaign (1943-44)/New Georgia Group Operation
From Month/Year
June / 1943
To Month/Year
October / 1943
Description This operation was fought during the Pacific war on this group of islands situated in the central Solomons. US forces invaded them as part of an American offensive (CARTWHEEL) to isolate and neutralize Rabaul, the main Japanese base in their South-East Area.
On 20 June 1943 a Raider battalion (, 5(f)) landed at Segi Point on the main island, New Georgia, and during the next two weeks there were other landings by US Marines and 43rd US Division on Rendova and Vangunu islands, and on western New Georgia, to seize a Japanese airstrip at Munda point. Despite the US Navy's intervention, which resulted in the battles of Kula Gulf and Kolombangara, 4,000 reinforcements were successfully dispatched to the commander of the 10,500-strong Japanese garrison, Maj-General Sasaki Noboru. Most reinforced Munda, which became the focus of Japanese resistance, and their night infiltration tactics unnerved the inexperienced US troops. Non-battle casualties, caused by exhaustion and ‘war neuroses’, increased alarmingly, and when the commander of 14th Corps, Maj-General Oscar Griswold, arrived on 11 July he reported the division was ‘about to fold up’. The 37th US Division was brought in, Griswold replaced the worst affected units, and he then launched a corps attack on 25 July. Fierce fighting followed but by 1August the Japanese, outnumbered and outgunned, had withdrawn inland. This time US Navy destroyers prevented more reinforcements reaching them when, on the night of 6/7August, they sank three Japanese transports (battle of Vella Gulf).
Munda now became the base of Marine Corps squadrons which supported landings on Vella Lavella on 15 August. These bypassed and isolated Sasaki's garrison now gathering on Kolombangara after further US reinforcements, elements of 25th US Division, had failed to destroy them on New Georgia. On 15 September Sasaki was ordered to withdraw. In a brilliantly organized evacuation 9,400 men out of the 12,500 on Kolombangara were rescued by landing craft, and the following month those on Vella Lavella were also evacuated.
The campaign proved costly for the Americans who had 1,094 killed and 3,873 wounded with thousands more becoming non-battle casualties. Excluding the fighting on Vella Lavella, 2,483 Japanese bodies were counted. Planned as a one-division operation, the Japanese garrison's ‘skill, tenacity, and valor’—to quote the campaign's official US historian—eventually made it one where elements of four had to be used. ‘The obstinate General Sasaki,’ the same historian concludes, ‘deserved his country's gratitude for his gallant and able conduct.’
