Edwin A. Pollock

Edwin A. Pollock
File:Edwin A Pollock.jpg General Edwin A. Pollock
Born	21 March 1899 Augusta, Georgia
Died	5 November 1982 (age 83) South Carolina
Place of burial	Beaufort National Cemetery
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Marine Corps
Years of service	1921–1959
Rank	General
Commands held	Fleet Marine Force, Pacific Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic 2nd Marine Division 1st Marine Division
Battles/wars	World War II Korean War
Awards	Navy Cross Legion of Merit Bronze Star with "V"

General Edwin A. Pollock USMC, was a highly decorated combat veteran of World War II and Korea who commanded both the 1st and 2d Marine Divisions and is the only man to have served as Commanding General of both the Atlantic and Pacific Fleet Marine Force. He had been advanced to the rank of general upon retirement by reason of having been specially commended in combat.

Pollock was awarded the Navy Cross for heroism on Guadalcanal the night of 20–21 August 1942. He was then a lieutenant colonel serving as a battalion commander with the 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division. His citation states in part:

"When the troops under his command were subjected to a powerful and determined surprise attack at the Tenaru River, Lieutenant-Colonel Pollock, immediately leaving his Command Post, advanced through severe enemy mortar and machine-gun fire to a position in the front line, and while thus constantly exposed to extreme danger, directed the defense of our forces for a period of twelve hours. As a result of his excellent judgment and superb leadership, the men under his command destroyed practically the entire enemy force of seven hundred."

Biography

Pollock was born on 21 March 1899, at Augusta, Georgia, where he attended the Summerville Academy. He also studied for a year at Staunton Military Academy in Virginia before entering The Citadel at Charleston, South Carolina. Graduating from The Citadel in 1921 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry, he was appointed a second lieutenant in the Army Reserve that June. He resigned that commission to accept appointment as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps Reserve 1 July 1921.

After completing the Company Officers' Course, Marine Corps Schools, Quantico, Virginia, Pollock reported to the Marine Barracks, Parris Island, South Carolina, in November 1922. He began his first tour of expeditionary duty in 1923 when he was ordered to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. In 1926, after duty with the West Coast Expeditionary Forces at San Diego, California, and a brief period at Quantico, he joined the 11th Marine Regiment in Nicaragua for his second tour of expeditionary service. He was promoted to first lieutenant in September 1926. He later joined the Staff of the Commanding General, 2d Brigade Marines, in Nicaragua, before returning to Quantico in late 1927.

In August 1928, as a member of the Marine Detachment aboard the USS Galveston (CL-19), Pollock was ordered once more to Nicaragua, during the U.S. military intervention in the Central American country. From June 1930 to August 1934, he served on the staff of the Marine Corps Schools. He was also attached to the 1st Marines during a period of intensive training aboard the USS Arkansas (BB-33) in Atlantic, Caribbean and Pacific waters. In August 1934, he was assigned duty aboard the USS Salt Lake City (CA-25) as Commanding Officer, Marine Detachment. That November he was promoted to captain. He continued to command the Marine Detachment until June 1936.

During the following year, Pollock served at the Marine Barracks, Naval Ammunition Depot, St. Julien's Creek, Virginia. In June 1937, he was ordered to Philadelphia where he served as Officer in Charge of the Publicity Bureau. He was promoted to major in September 1938. Leaving Philadelphia in June 1939, Pollock was assigned to the Marine Corps Schools, Quantico. There he completed the Senior Course and served as Assistant Instructor in the Base Defense Weapons and Reserve Officers' courses. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel in January 1942.

In April 1942, Pollock took command of the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines. He embarked for the Pacific area in June and two months later participated in the action which earned him the Navy Cross on Guadalcanal. That September, he was named Executive Officer of the 1st Marines, and in July 1943 became Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3 (Operations), 1st Marine Division. He was promoted to colonel in November 1943.

Pollock later took part in the Eastern New Guinea and Cape Gloucester operations, earning the Legion of Merit with Combat "V" during the latter. He returned to the States in March 1944 as Staff Instructor at the Army, Navy Staff College. In December 1944, he rejoined the Fleet Marine Force overseas as Operations Officer and, later, Chief of Staff, 4th Marine Division. During combat on Iwo Jima, he was awarded the Bronze Star with Combat "V".

In November 1945, Pollock was again ordered to Quantico. He served there successively as Commanding Officer of the Basic School, Executive Officer of the Marine Corps Schools, and Chief of Staff of the Marine Barracks. Subsequently assigned to Headquarters Marine Corps, Washington, D.C., he was appointed Military Secretary to the Commandant of the Marine Corps in June 1948. In July 1949, with his promotion to brigadier general, he became Director of Plans and Policies at Headquarters Marine Corps.

Pollock was promoted to major general in October 1951. That December, he became Commanding General of the 2nd Marine Division at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. In August 1952, he arrived in Korea to assume command of the 1st Marine Division. The Distinguished Service Medal was awarded to him for outstanding service in this capacity during the Korean War from August 1952 to June 1953, during bitter engagements on the Reno-Carson-Vegas Complex.

Shortly after returning from Korea, the general reported to Quantico in July 1953 as Director of the Marine Corps Educational Center. A year later he assumed command of the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina. In January 1956, Pollock was promoted to lieutenant general and appointed Commandant of the Marine Corps Schools, Quantico.

Pollock left Quantico in August 1956 to assume duty the following month at Camp H. M. Smith as Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific, Honolulu, T.H. Following this assignment, he served as Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia, from December 1957 until his retirement on 1 November 1959.

In 1965 he was instrumental in helping found the Marine Military Academy in Harlingen, Texas and served as the school's first President and Commandant, he later served as Chairman of the Board of Visitors at The Citadel and was named Chairman Emeritus upon the completion of his term. The auditorium at the headquarters of the Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic in Norfolk, Virginia is named in his honor and the bridge leading to the main gate at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina is named the General Edwin Pollock Causeway.

Pollock died on 5 November 1982, and is buried at Beaufort National Cemetery, South Carolina.

Awards and decorations

A complete list of the general's medals and decorations include:

1st Row		Navy Cross	Army Distinguished Service Medal
2nd Row	Legion of Merit w/ valor device	Bronze Star w/ valor device	Navy Presidential Unit Citation w/ 3 service stars	Navy Unit Commendation w/ 1 service star
3rd Row	Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal	Dominican Campaign Medal	Nicaraguan Campaign Medal (1933)	American Defense Service Medal
4th Row	American Campaign Medal	Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal w/ 5 service stars	World War II Victory Medal	National Defense Service Medal
5th Row	Korean Service Medal w/ 3 service stars	Order of Military Merit, Taeguk Cordon Medal	Korean Presidential Unit Citation	United Nations Korea Medal

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.