06/02/2026
He was not just a soldier.
He was a warrior whose courage crossed three wars.
Pascal Cleatus Poolaw Sr., a Kiowa Native American from Oklahoma, became known as the most decorated Native American soldier in U.S. history. He served in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War — carrying not only the weight of a uniform, but the strength of generations before him.
Over his military career, Poolaw earned 42 medals and citations, including four Silver Stars, five Bronze Stars, and three Purple Hearts. Each Purple Heart came from a different war, a painful reminder of how much he gave and how many times he returned to serve again.
But his story is more than a list of medals.
In Vietnam, Poolaw was killed while trying to save a wounded soldier. Even in his final moments, he chose courage over safety, duty over fear, and another life over his own.
For Native Americans, military service has often carried a complicated history. Native people served a nation that had broken treaties, taken land, and tried to erase their cultures. Yet men like Pascal Poolaw still stood with honor — not because history was fair, but because courage was part of who they were.
His legacy is not only American history.
It is Native history.
It is Kiowa history.
It is the story of a warrior who gave everything and deserves to be remembered by name.
Pascal Cleatus Poolaw Sr.
42 medals and citations.
Three wars.
One unforgettable legacy.