World War II Honoree

Randle E. Pollard

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Evanston, Illinois

Honored By

Randle B. Pollard

Relationship

Son

He served as a medic with the IV Corps of the U.S. 5th Army, 92nd Infantry Division, 370th Regiment 'Buffalo Soldiers'. He was drafted after his sophomore year at Prairie View University. In August 1944, his regiment was involved in the Allied invasion of Italy, southwest of Florence, near the coastal town of Viareggio. The 92nd faced not only mountainous terrain and tremendous resistance from German and Italian soldiers but also an array of manmade defensive works that were part of the German Army's Gothic Line. His regiment fought in towns such as Massa and Castelnuovo. Though medics were not allowed to carry a gun, he would occasionally pick one up that he found in the heat of battle. The Germans did not respect the Red Cross on his helmet while he helped the injured, and often he was the subject of gun and artillery fire. On October 31, 1944, his platoon was trapped after an ambush off a road near Massa. Several in his platoon were hit immediately, and he ran to their aid amidst a hail of shrapnel and enemy fire. Of those he assisted, two survived. Because of his actions, he was awarded a Bronze Star. In 1998, he also received a Bronze Battle Star for his role in another battle.