World War II Honoree

Emil Pollak

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Bronx, New York

Honored By

Deborah McRackan & Steven M. Pollak

Relationship

Daughter and Son

ENLISTED ON APRIL 8, 1941. ARMY SPECIALTY: PHARMACIST. RIFLE COURSE C, FORT EUSTIS, VIRGINIA. GRADUATE OFFICER CANDIDATE SCHOOL, CARLISLE BARRACKS, PENNSYLVANIA. DISCHARGED ON SEPTEMBER 25, 1942 AS A TECHNICIAN 5TH GRADE BY REASON OF CONVENIENCE OF GOVERNMENT TO ACCEPT AN APPOINTMENT AS SECOND LIEUTENANT ON SEPTEMBER 26, 1942. HE WAS FIRST LIEUTENANT IN THE 46TH MEDICAL BATTALION/ AMBULANCE PLATOON, OFFICER, 4TH ARMORED DIVISION IN CHARGE OF THE EVACUATION OF CASUALTIES FROM FORWARD AIDE STATIONS TO THE 46TH MEDICAL BATTALION. THE 4TH ARMORED DIVISION LANDED AT UTAH BEACH, NORMANDY ON JULY 11, 1944. FOUGHT THROUGH FRANCE, ARDENNES, INTO BELGIUM; SPEARHEADING FOR GENERAL PATTON'S 3RD ARMY. ATTACKED THE GERMANS AT BASTOGNE ON DECEMBER 26. IT WAS THE FIRST UNIT TO BREAK THROUGH THE GERMAN LINES AND RELIEVE THE STANGLEHOLD THE GERMANS HAD ON BASTOGNE. HE WAS THE ACTING COMBAT COMMAND SURGEON, RESPONSIBLE FOR ORCHESTRATING THE EVACUATION OF ALL CASUALTIES FROM BASTOGNE. HE ALSO SERVED ON THE COMBAT TEAM OF LIEUTENANT COLONEL CREIGHTON ABRAMS. MEDALS AWARDED: SILVER STAR, BRONZE STAR, PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION, COMBAT MEDICAL BADGE, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 4 STARS, WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL.