Hector John Polla was born on September 30, 1916, in Lafayette County, Missouri. He was the son of Lodovico L. Polla and Maddeline N. Giorza Polla. He was married to Lillian Jackson. He graduated from high school before attending Wentworth Military Academy, earning his Junior College degree in 1936. The following year, he received a West Point appointment from Congressman W. L. Nelson and graduated with the Class of 1941. After completing Infantry training at Fort Benning, Georgia, he chose service in the Philippines, reporting to Fort William McKinley in November 1941 and joining the Philippine Scouts.

During the Battle of Bataan, he earned the Silver Star Medal for personally braving heavy fire to close a gap in the line, saving many lives and securing a critical defensive position. Following Bataan’s fall, he was imprisoned at Cabanatuan and forced to endure the infamous Bataan Death March.
In December 1944, he was among 1,600 American POWs loaded aboard a Japanese transport bound for Japan. On December 15, 1944, the ship was unknowingly torpedoed by American forces in Subic Bay, off Luzon. He survived the sinking and was transferred to another vessel bound for Japan. However, tragedy struck once again, the ship was attacked, and on January 21, 1945, while still en route to Japan, Lieutenant Polla was killed in action.

1Lt Pollas' name is memorialized in the Tablets of the Missing in the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines.

Silver Star Citation:
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant (Infantry) Hector John Polla (ASN: 0-24016), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 57th Infantry Regiment (Philippine Scouts) in action against the enemy in the defense of the Philippine Islands. On 9 February 1942 during a coordinated attack in which his organization had reached the objective but was forced to partially abandon same due to loss of contact and failure of an adjacent unit to close up. Lieutenant Polla did, on his own initiative, personally move through the gap under heavy fire, contact and bring the adjacent unit up into position. This courageous act, in addition to saving the lives of many men, allowed his battalion to hold a position which could not have been held otherwise. His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, alumni.westpointaog.org, valor.militarytimes.com