Major Polen was the pilot of a F4U-5N Corsair night fighter with Marine Night Fighter Squadron 513, Marine Air Group 33, First Marine Air Wing. On 17 October 1950, while on a ferry flight from Airfield K-14 (Kimpo) to Wonsan Airfield (K-25), contact was lost. He was listed as Missing in Action and was presumed dead on 21 December 1953. His remains were not recovered. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial.

For his leadership and valor, Major Polen was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with 3 Gold Stars, the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.