McPoland, James J. "Jim"

Date of birth:: March 22nd, 1915 (Catskill/New York, United States)
Nationality:: American

Biography

James J. McPoland was born on 22nd March 1915 in Catskill, New York. Already in Primary School he won several prizes with athletics. At the George Washington High School, he won more sports prizes than any other student. In Georgetown University he specialized more into athletics and specific in running the mile. Later he transferred to the New York University. Here he also started swimming, winning several prizes there too.
He enlisted in the United States Navy Marine Corps. At the end of the war he was honorably discharged as a Major.
In 1945 he settled in Yonkers and became involved in coaching youth in athletics.

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Navy Cross

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: First Lieutenant (Lieutenant)
Unit:: Company I, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Division "The Spearhead", U.S. Marine Corps
Awarded on:: March 18th, 1945
Awarded for:: Operation Detachment

"For extraordinary heroism as Commanding Officer of Company I, Third Battalion, Twenty-Sixth Marines, FIFTH Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, on 18 March 1945. When his left platoon was halted by machine-gun fire at the crest of a ridge during an attack across rough, rocky terrain, First Lieutenant McPoland moved ahead to maintain the momentum of the assault and, despite intense enemy fire and previously incurred wounds, personally directed his company in the continuation of the attack. After one of his men was critically wounded as he was reorganizing his unit, First Lieutenant McPoland, realizing that immediate evacuation of the Marine was necessary, unhesitatingly ordered three men to follow him into the danger area to remove the casualty. Although wounded again by enemy fire which pinned down his companions, he crawled forward and moved the wounded man to a place of safety. Gallantly renewing the determined assault, he was wounded a third time, but refused evacuation until he had captured the company objective. His great valor, fighting spirit and unselfish devotion to duty reflect the highest credit upon First Lieutenant McPoland and the United States Naval Service."

SPOT AWARD, Fleet Marine Force Pacific: Serial 44533