At a ceremony in Veterans Park in West Seneca, Congressman Brian Higgins and Supervisor Shelia Meegan presented Sergeant Carl J. Poydock, Jr. of West Seneca with a Purple Heart for his injuries while serving in the Vietnam War.
“I am pleased to recognize Sergeant Poydock for his heroism and present him with this long-overdue honor,” said Congressman Higgins. “We thank him for his service and his courage and loyalty for returning to war even after suffering the injury that earned him his first Purple Heart. People like Sergeant Poydock truly exemplify what it means to be an American.”
Sergeant Poydock was born and raised in South Buffalo. On July 4, 1966, Poydock, then a Sloan resident, was drafted to Army service.He served as a Sergeant with Company D, 1st Battalion, 5th Calvary and was injured twice by enemy fire. On March 15, 1967 he was shot in the left leg when his unit was attacked, causing injuries that kept him in a military hospital in Japan for three months.
Upon recovery, Sergeant Poydock bravely returned to service later that same year, only to be wounded again. The second hit came on November 12, 1967 while providing security in the rear of a resupply truck. Disregarding his own wounds he exited the vehicle and began delivering a heavy volume of suppressive fire on enemy positions. Despite being injured he exposed himself to enemy fire while he moved forward and secured a machine gun from the vehicle. He then assisted in firing the weapon until the ammunition was expended. He and another trooper were wounded with shrapnel and taken to the division aid station for medical treatment. He received several stitches on his neck and face and had shrapnel removed from his body. Poydock was discharged from the Army on July 4, 1968.
Sergeant Poydock received a Purple Heart for wounds he received from his first injury in Vietnam, but never received orders issuing him the second Purple Heart he deserved for his second injury by enemy fire. Congressman Higgins’ office asked the Department of the Army to evaluate Sergeant Poydock’s case and it was found that he was indeed eligible for the second Purple Heart.
The Purple Heart presented to Sergeant Poydock by Congressman Higgins and Supervisor Meegan has one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster indicating that he was awarded two Purple Heart awards. He will also receive 2 Purple Heart certificates, an Army Commendation Medal with Letter “V” Device and the National Defense Service Medal. Additionally, Sergeant Poydock received a copy of the order issuing him his second Purple Heart and amended discharge papers to reflect the issuing of his second Purple Heart.
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