Edwin A. Pollock

Edwin A. Pollock
General Edwin A. Pollock
Born	21 March 1899 Augusta, Georgia
Died	5 November 1982 (age 83) South Carolina
Place of burial	Beaufort National Cemetery
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Marine Corps
Years of service	1918–1959
Rank	General
Commands held	Fleet Marine Force, Pacific Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic 2nd Marine Division 1st Marine Division
Battles/wars	World War II Korean War
Awards	Navy Cross Army Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit Bronze Star with "V"

General Edwin A. Pollock USMC, was a highly decorated combat veteran of World War II and Korea who commanded both the 1st and 2d Marine Divisions and is the only man to have served as Commanding General of both the Atlantic and Pacific Fleet Marine Force. He had been advanced to the rank of general upon retirement by reason of having been specially commended in combat.

Pollock was awarded the Navy Cross for heroism on Guadalcanal the night of 20–21 August 1942. He was then a lieutenant colonel serving as a battalion commander with the 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division. His citation states in part:

"When the troops under his command were subjected to a powerful and determined surprise attack at the Tenaru River, Lieutenant-Colonel Pollock, immediately leaving his Command Post, advanced through severe enemy mortar and machine-gun fire to a position in the front line, and while thus constantly exposed to extreme danger, directed the defense of our forces for a period of twelve hours. As a result of his excellent judgment and superb leadership, the men under his command destroyed practically the entire enemy force of seven hundred."

Pollock was born on 21 March 1899, at Augusta, Georgia, where he attended the Summerville Academy. He also studied for a year at Staunton Military Academy in Virginia before entering The Citadel at Charleston, South Carolina in 1918. Graduating from The Citadel in 1921 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry, he was appointed a second lieutenant in the Army Reserve that June. He resigned that commission to accept appointment as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps Reserve 1 July 1921.

After completing the Company Officers' Course, Marine Corps Schools, Quantico, Virginia, Pollock reported to the Marine Barracks, Parris Island, South Carolina, in November 1922. He began his first tour of expeditionary duty in 1923 when he was ordered to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. In 1926, after duty with the West Coast Expeditionary Forces at San Diego, California, and a brief period at Quantico, he joined the 11th Marine Regiment in Nicaragua for his second tour of expeditionary service. He was promoted to first lieutenant in September 1926. He later joined the Staff of the Commanding General, 2d Brigade Marines, in Nicaragua, before returning to Quantico in late 1927.