Colonel James A. Poland was born on 13 Sept. 1933. After graduating high school, he attended Illinois Institute of Technology on a Naval Scholarship, graduating in June 1955 with a Bachelor of Science Degree. He was then commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the US Marine Corps. Jim's various duties included command at the platoon, company, battalion, division and joint staff levels. He also served as a member of the Personnel Department at the Headquarters of the Marine Corps, Inspector-Instructor and Casualty Assistance Officer in Buffalo, NY, and as a faculty member of the Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, VA. Jim also had a tour on the U.S.S. Los Angeles and, as an advisor to the South Vietnamese Marines (aka Covan). Jim served two tours in Vietnam, including combat operations in Quemoy-Matsu. His last duty station was as commanding officer, Headquarters and Service Battalion, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific/Camp Commander, Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii. Besides the Basic School, he attended Intelligence Officer as well as Intelligence Operations Specialist schools, Canadian Forces Command and Staff College in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, Marine Corps Command and Staff College, and National Security Management. When anyone asked what his favorite duty station was, his reply was always the same—"The one you left and the one you are going to." But Jim did find the duty in Buffalo probably to be the one to "test his faith." When you must inform a parent, a wife, of the death of a loved one that takes an officer with a deeply religious conviction and Jim handled that assignment like the dedicated Marine officer that he was. Jim was officially placed on the Marine Corps Officers Retired List on 1 July, 1985, after having completed 30 years, 5 months and 12 days of service. Among his personal decorations, he holds: The Legion of Merit with Combat V, Bronze Star with Combat V, Purple Heart, National Defense Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Service, Republic of Vietnam Service Medal with 3 Gold Stars, Cross of Gallantry with Gold Star, Vietnam Honor Medal 1st Class, Vietnam Campaign. (Legacy). There appears to be blood pitting on the pistol.
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SavageM1Thompson
USMC Colonel French MAC M1950 Nam bringback pistol
Colonel James A. Poland was born on 13 Sept. 1933. After graduating high school, he attended Illinois Institute of Technology on a Naval Scholarship, graduating in June 1955 with a Bachelor of Science Degree. He was then commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the US Marine Corps. Jim's various duties included command at the platoon, company, battalion, division and joint staff levels. He also served as a member of the Personnel Department at the Headquarters of the Marine Corps, Inspector-Instructor and Casualty Assistance Officer in Buffalo, NY, and as a faculty member of the Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, VA. Jim also had a tour on the U.S.S. Los Angeles and, as an advisor to the South Vietnamese Marines (aka Covan). Jim served two tours in Vietnam, including combat operations in Quemoy-Matsu. His last duty station was as commanding officer, Headquarters and Service Battalion, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific/Camp Commander, Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii. Besides the Basic School, he attended Intelligence Officer as well as Intelligence Operations Specialist schools, Canadian Forces Command and Staff College in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, Marine Corps Command and Staff College, and National Security Management. When anyone asked what his favorite duty station was, his reply was always the same—"The one you left and the one you are going to." But Jim did find the duty in Buffalo probably to be the one to "test his faith." When you must inform a parent, a wife, of the death of a loved one that takes an officer with a deeply religious conviction and Jim handled that assignment like the dedicated Marine officer that he was. Jim was officially placed on the Marine Corps Officers Retired List on 1 July, 1985, after having completed 30 years, 5 months and 12 days of service. Among his personal decorations, he holds: The Legion of Merit with Combat V, Bronze Star with Combat V, Purple Heart, National Defense Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Service, Republic of Vietnam Service Medal with 3 Gold Stars, Cross of Gallantry with Gold Star, Vietnam Honor Medal 1st Class, Vietnam Campaign. (Legacy). There appears to be blood pitting on the pistol.
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