WWII 12th. Infantry Regiment 4th. Infantry Division PH Medal Group

January 18

Here is a small group of medals with an interesting story of a soldier to tell.

Harold Edwin Poland 1913-1984

Harold E. Poland was born in West Alexander, Pennsylvania on January 13th. 1913 to William and Lucretia Poland; the first born of the young couple; they would have three more children; William born in 1918, Shirley born in 1920, and Herbert born in 1931. Harold would attend grammar school growing up. Being the oldest child of the family during the depression, he was only able to complete grammar school and instead went to work to help support the family. He married Lavinia M. Cole on August 18th. 1931. The couple would have three children.

Harold would register for the Draft on October 16th. 1940 and at the time he was employed at the Washington Tin Plate Company in Washington, Pennsylvania. He would continue work there as an employee of an essential war production company until he received his notice to report for service. He reported to New Cumberland, Pennsylvania where he would be Inducted into the U.S. Army on March 29th. 1944. His younger brother Herbert would also serve his country during the war with the 361st. Harbor Craft Company.

Harold would complete his basic training and ultimately end up as a rifleman. In October 1944, after months of training, he would receive orders to prepare for overseas movement as a replacement headed for Europe. He would depart the U.S. for Scotland on November 3rd. 1944 and after a short stay there and a quick trip through England, he would land in France on November 13th. 1944. Sent to a replacement depot assigned to the 92nd. Replacement Battalion, he would ultimately join Company I. of the 12th. Infantry Regiment, 4th. Infantry Division while the unit was in Stavelot, Belgium. He would join the regiment on November 21st. and quickly see combat as the 4th. Infantry Division was engaged in the later part of the Battle of the Hurtgen Forest. He was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge per G.O. #19, Headquarters, 12th. Infantry Regiment, 26 December 1944. He would be with the unit as it moved out of Belgium and into Germany, and ultimately to Luxembourg. On December 16th, the Germans came crashing into American lines. The 4th. Infantry Division was engaged in heavy combat during the Battle of the Bulge in the southern sector of the front line. The division ultimately fought across the Sauer River in January. It was during these combat operations in Luxembourg that on January 21st. 1945, Pfc. Poland would be wounded in action, suffering a severe fracture of his upper arm due to an artillery shell burst. His wounds were so serious that he would ultimately be sent home stateside for continued recovery.

Private First Class Harold E. Poland would be awarded the Purple Heart Medal for wounds received in action in Luxembourg per G.O. #6, 279th. U.S. Station Hospital, 8 March 1945. His Purple Heart Medal case contains a folded paper order: G.O. #8, HQ, 55th. U.S. General Hospital, Dated 27 March 1945. Two days later, he would be on his way home back to the United States arriving on April 11th. He would be sent to Kennedy General Hospital in Memphis Tennessee where he would continue to recover. Pfc. Poland was discharged from the Army shortly after Christmas on December 29th. 1945. He returned to Pennsylvania following his discharge. After the war, he found work as a watchman at a printing factory.

In February 1978, Harold wrote to the National Personnel Records Center inquiring about receiving a Bronze Star Medal as he had received the Combat Infantryman Badge during the war. He submitted a copy of his discharge document as evidence of his service showing his qualification. He would receive an engraved medal later that year in recognition of his combat service.

Harold E. Poland passed away on February 8th. 1984 at the age of 71. Survived by his wife Lavinia and his three daughters.

This group turned up in Pennsylvania last year and I was able to acquire part of it; Interestingly, he rubber stamped his address on a piece of masking tape inside the lid of each little box. I unfortunately missed all of his insignia and his engraved Bronze Star. If anyone here happens to have it, I’d be interested in purchasing it and reuniting it with all his other medals. It's been an interesting research project over the last several months.