Person Page 4,907

Obituary -- (Findagrave.com):

Sept. 13, 1922 – Sept. 1, 2010.

Thomas David Pollard, age 87, of Destin, Fla., passed away Sept. 1, 2010, surrounded by his family and friends.

Thomas was born in Mulberry, Ind., and lived his youth in Gainesville, Fla., with his parents, Ailene Atherton and Dr. Cash Blair Pollard. He attended Gordon Military Academy in Barnesville, Ga.

Lt. Col. Thomas Pollard had a long and distinguished military career in the Edson's Raiders, 1st Marine Raider Battalion, and the 82nd Airborne Division of the U.S. Army. His numerous military honors for his valor in World War II and the Korean War include the Silver Star with cluster, two Purple Hearts, and a Distinguished Service Cross.

Thomas is survived by his loving wife, Thrilda B. Pollard; and his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. The families are as follows: son, Thomas Edward Pollard and his children, Thomas Jr. and Monica; daughter, Barbara Lynn (Pollard) Adair and her children, Scott, Allison and Ashley; daughter, Nancy Blair Pollard and her children, Jeffrey, Melissa, Gwen, Charlie, Tony, Rod and Marcella (deceased); daughter, Toody (Pollard) Porter, son-in-law Tom, and their children, Kati, Annabelle and Tom Jr.; daughter, Sharon (Pollard) Wexler, son-in-law Abraham, and their children, Alana (Howard Schwartz) and Suzanne; and, Suzanne Pollard (deceased). He has 38 great- grandchildren.

DSC Citation

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to First Lieutenant Thomas D. Pollard (MCSN: 0-14726/289992), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company D, FIRST Marine Raider Battalion in action against the enemy at Enogai Point, New Georgia, Solomon Islands, on 7, 8, 10, and 20 July 1943. Leading the charge of his platoon in successful attacks on enemy positions near Enogai, First Lieutenant Pollard was credited with shooting four enemy snipers who were concealed in trees. Two days later his platoon was ordered to flank hostile machine-gun positions which held up the advance of two companies. Lieutenant Pollard led his platoon through the jungle to the enemy's flank and rear, knocked their gun positions out of action, killed many of the enemy and drove others into the sea. He then continued to lead the advance to the beach near Enogai Point where two machine guns were captured. In later attacks against well entrenched forces defending Bairoko, his platoon penetrated enemy positions and advanced to within 200 yards of the harbor which was defended by a concentration of 90-mm. mortar fire. The outstanding heroism and skill displayed by First Lieutenant Pollard on this occasion reflect highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.

Obituary -- The Pensacola News, Pensacola, Florida; Monday, 14 MAR 1977, p.20 (Newspapers.com):

POLLARD

DESTIN -- First Lieutenant (USAF) Thrilda Suzanne Pollard, 27, of Nellis AFB, Nevada died Thursday at Nellis AFB.

She was a native of Monroe La. and a graduate of the Gordon Military and the University of Georgia. She was commissioned in July 1974. She was assigned to Headquarters, 57th Combat Support Group (TAC) Procurement Office at Nellis AFB.

Survivors include her parents, Lt.Col. (Ret.) and Mrs. Thomas D. Pollard of Destin; a brother, Thomas E. Pollard of Stuart, Fla.; seven sisters, Sharon A. Wexler of Montreal Canada, Patricia A. Pollard of Atlanta, Ga., Linda Mustin of Stone Mountain, Ga., Debrooh (sic) Rogers of Portland Ore., Nancy Carroll of Bahama Islands, Barbara Adair of San Diego, Ca. and Mary Twisdale of Memphis, Tenn.; her maternal grandmother, Susie T. Baggett of Hattiesburgh (sic), Miss; two uncles, Charles W. Baggott (sic) of Hattiesburgh (sic) and Donny Baggot (sic) of Houston Texas; aunt and uncle Mr. and Mrs. Jake Spurgeon and cousin Tracy Spurgeon of Moore, Okla.

Military graveside services will be 2:30 p.m. Tuesday in Barrancas National Cemetery in Pensacola with Chaplain George Warner officiating.

Friends may call at the Little Chapel Mortuary in Ft. Walton Beach from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday.

NOTE: This obituary commingles the four children of Thomas D. Pollard and Mary Atkinson with the children and relatives of his third wife, the mother of Thrilda Suzanne Pollard, Thrilda S. Baggett, plus Sharon Pollard Wexler, who appears to have been a daughter of Thomas from his first (1944) marriage. The 1955 obituary of Mary's father states that he had four grandchildren, as did the 1984 obituary of her mother, Mary (Mesker) Atkinson, and Mary was an only child. Mary A. Pollard and her four children were listed on an arriving passenger list at the Port of New York on 27 JUL 1959; they were Barbara L., Thomas E., Nancy B., and Mary A. Pollard. DLB 2021.