FORT SILL, Okla. (April 24, 2015) -- Staff Sgt. Roderick Poolaw, an Oklahoma National Guard Soldier assigned to B Battery, 158th Field Artillery recently returned from a deployment to Afghanistan and is happy to be back home at Fort Sill.
Roderick joined the National Guard in 1986 in Anadarko, where he grew up. He now resides in Apache.
The Guardsman is the grandson of 1st Sgt. Pascal Cleatus Poolaw Sr., the highest decorated Kiowa Indian in Army history. The elder Poolaw served in World War II and was awarded the Silver Star and a Purple Heart for fighting German forces at the battle of Normandy.
He continued to serve fighting in the Korean and Vietnam wars. During the Korean War, Pascal was wounded again and awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, a second Purple Heart and two more Silver Stars.
He retired as a first lieutenant from the Army in 1962 but re-enlisted to go to Vietnam in 1967, where he served as the first sergeant for C Company, 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment.
Pascal made this decision to re-enlist in an effort to keep his four sons, who were all in the military service, from being in danger after seeing one of his sons Roderick's father injured while serving in Vietnam.
Pascal was killed Nov. 7, 1967 in Binh Long province during the Battle of Loc Ninh. Even in death, Pascal's devotion to duty was evident. He was killed attempting to rescue his battalion commander and staff from an overwhelming enemy assault. As Pascal was carrying a wounded Soldier to safety, he was struck by a rocket propelled grenade.
Poolaw Hall here is named in his honor. First Sgt. Poolaw was also inducted into the Hall of Fame of Famous American Indians in Anadarko. During his military service, Pascal received 42 medals and citations. He is buried at the Fort Sill Post Cemetery.
Roderick had just been born when his grandfather was killed. He was raised by his grandmother, Irene Poolaw, Pascal's wife, from whom he heard stories of his famous grandfather.
"Everything I've known about my grandfather has either been from stories, my dad or my grandmother," said Roderick. "There's so many stories, it's hard to remember them all."
March 17 marked the 29th year of service for Roderick. He hopes to continue to serve for another year before retiring after 30 years of service to the military.
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