VETERAN OF THE DAY
January 23, 2026
SGT WILLIAM ALFRED POLCHOW
U.S. MARINE CORPS
September 5, 1946 – January 23, 1968
KILLED IN ACTION | VIETNAM WAR
BASIC INFORMATION
Name: William Alfred Polchow
Rank: Sergeant (SGT)
Branch: United States Marine Corps
Unit: Headquarters Company, Headquarters Battalion, III Marine Amphibious Force (III MAF)
Home of Record: Port Washington, New York
Date of Birth: September 5, 1946
Date of Death: January 23, 1968
Age: 21
Casualty Province (Vietnam): Thua Thien Province
Vietnam Veterans Memorial: Panel 35E, Line 18
HONORING HIS SERVICE
On January 23, 1968, Sergeant William Alfred Polchow was killed in action while serving with the United States Marine Corps in the Republic of Vietnam.
SGT Polchow was assigned to Headquarters Company, Headquarters Battalion, III Marine Amphibious Force during one of the most volatile weeks of the war. January 1968 marked the opening phase of the Battle of Khe Sanh and the final days before the Tet Offensive erupted across South Vietnam.
Though assigned to a headquarters unit, Marines in these roles often operated in and around forward positions, command areas, and critical operational centers that were frequent targets of enemy attacks. The records and memorial notes surrounding Sergeant Polchow reflect the chaos and intensity that defined those days.
At just 21 years old, he gave his life in service to his country.
IN THEIR FOOTSTEPS
From Port Washington, New York, to the battlefields of Vietnam, Sergeant Polchow represents the steady leadership of non-commissioned officers who carried enormous responsibility at a young age.
He was not simply a name on a roster. He was a son, a friend, a Marine, and a leader. His name now stands permanently etched on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, a reminder that the cost of freedom is measured in lives lived too briefly.
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The Micky Spano Show and mickyspano.com/ honor a Veteran of the Day, every day, because remembrance is not optional.
Today we honor SGT William Alfred Polchow, United States Marine Corps, who gave his life in Vietnam on January 23, 1968.
If you served with Sergeant Polchow, knew his family, or have photos or memories you would like to share, please reach out so his story continues to be told.
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Honor the fallen. Support the living. Teach the next generation.
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