Thomas Dewitt Poole
Corporal, U.S. Army

Thomas Dewitt Poole was inducted into the U.S. Army on 22 March 1967.

On 12 February 1968, then-Private First Class Thomas Dewitt Poole was serving with Company A, 5th Battalion (Airmobile), 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile), in South Vietnam.

On that day, PFC Poole was a rifleman during a search and destroy operation in Quan Huong Tra Province. Company A was moving toward a treeline on the far side of a rice paddy when it was subjected to heavy mortar, recoilless rifle and small arms fire from a North Vietnamese Army force occupying entrenched and fortified positions in the woods. PFC Poole's platoon was temporarily pinned down behind some mounds of earth, but soon began an assault on the enemy. PFC Poole ran across 100 meters of open rice paddy and engaged the North Vietnamese at close range. Moving directly into the treeline, he personally assaulted an enemy bunker in his path, killing its 3 occupants with rifle fire. The fusillade delivered by other hostile bunkers increased in intensity, and his platoon was ordered to withdraw and regroup. As PFC Poole drew back across the rice paddy, he noticed a wounded platoon member lying exposed to enemy weapons and moved to assist the fallen soldier. While attempting to rescue his comrade, he was mortally wounded . PFC Poole's courageous action and extraordinary heroism, at the cost of his life, earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Poole received a posthumous promotion to the rank of Corporal.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Bronze Star Medal (Merit)
Purple Heart with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Air Medal
Army Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Combat Infantryman Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Private First Class Thomas Dewitt Poole (ASN: US-67109268), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Company A, 5th Battalion (Airmobile), 7th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). Private First Class Poole distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 12 February 1968 as a rifleman during a search and destroy operation in Quan Huong Tra Province. His company was moving toward a treeline on the far side of a rice paddy when it was subjected to heavy mortar, recoilless rifle and small arms fire from a North Vietnamese Army force occupying entrenched and fortified positions in the woods. Private Poole's platoon was temporarily pinned down behind some mounds of earth, but soon began an assault on the enemy. Braving a hail of bullets and shrapnel. Private Poole charged across one hundred meters of open rice paddy and engaged the North Vietnamese at close range. Moving directly into the treeline, he personally assaulted an enemy bunker in his path, killing its three occupants with rifle fire. The savage fusillade delivered by other hostile bunkers increased in intensity, and his platoon was ordered to withdraw and regroup. As Private Poole drew back across the rice paddy, he noticed a wounded platoon member lying exposed to the enemy weapons. Completely disregarding his safety, he moved to assist the fallen soldier. He was mortally wounded while attempting to rescue his comrade. Private First Class Poole'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.

General Orders: Headquarters, U.S. Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 1569 (April 8, 1968)

Honors

The name Thomas Dewitt Poole is located on Panel 39E Line 11 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.

Burial

Corporal Thomas Dewitt Poole is buried at Pine Hill Cemetery in Bessemer, Jefferson County, AL, in Plot: Right 6116.

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