Hubert Clarence Van Poll

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Hubert Clarence Van Poll (19488345), Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam as a member of Detachment A-219, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces. Staff Sergeant Van Poll distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 15 June 1967 while serving as Special Forces platoon leader of a Mike Force Company which was moving to relieve a beleaguered Vietnamese unit near Dak To. As Sergeant Van Poll’s company moved along a heavily wooded trail, it received a sudden outburst of intense Viet Cong machine gun fire from concealed, fortified positions. When another American, who was leading a small element in counterattack, was hit, Sergeant Van Poll left his cover and, firing steadily, crawled toward the wounded man. Despite intense fire raking the ground all around him, he reached his comrade and administered first aid. He then picked up the wounded man and ran towards his own lines through a tremendous outburst of fire. Sergeant Van Poll was knocked to the ground by a grenade explosion, but struggled to his feet and reached a covered position. The insurgents’ attack intensified and as Sergeant Van Poll was treating his comrade’s wounds, he was mortally wounded himself, Staff Sergeant Van Poll’s extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, at the cost of his life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
Headquarters, US Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 3867 (July 28, 1967)