Plainview resident Peter J. Pollione, who retired from the Marine Corps Reserve as a sergeant major after 27 years of service, received his Bronze Star medal more than 50 years after action in the Korean War.

As corporal in the Korean War, Pollione exposed himself to enemy fire at Hagaru-Ri to assist another Marine with a rocket launcher. When the rocket launcher malfunctioned, Pollione and the other Marine used the rockets as hand grenades to repulse an aggressive and determined enemy assault.

Misplaced paperwork delayed the awarding of this medal to Pollione. The Bronze Star is the tenth highest medal awarded to military personnel.

Born Jan. 7, 1930 in the Bronx, Sergeant Major Pollione entered the Marine Corps Reserve in January 1947. Following recruit training and two years of service in the New York area, he transferred to Los Angeles where he worked at the LA Times-Mirror in addition to his reserve duty. With the beginning of the Korean War in 1950, Pollione's LA reserve unit was activated and sent to Camp Pendleton, California to form the remainder of the first Provisional Marine Brigade, the rest of which was already in Korea.

Pollione, assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment (2/5), shipped from San Diego, California for Kobe, Japan in August 1950 and arrived in Pusan, Korea in September. As part of 2/5, Pollione participated in the landing at Inchon September 15 and was wounded nine days later. Despite his wound, Pollione returned to the front lines that afternoon.

Pollione participated in five major campaigns in the Korean War, and left Korea in May 1951. Upon his return to the United States, he was assigned to brig (prison) duty in Brooklyn until January 1952 when he was released from active duty. Five months after being discharged from the Marine Corps, Pollione returned to the Marine Corps Reserve and attended the Advertising and Editorial Art School in Manhattan under the G.I. Bill. He later attended City College of New York business school and worked several years as a designer for the print media.

In October 1968, Pollione started his own advertising/art business, which he operated for 25 years when he closed shop and took a part-time job with a department store chain in 1993.

Sgt. Maj. Pollione retired from the Marine Corps Reserve in November 1974. He is married to the former Janet Smile and they have four children, Lisa, Peter, Christopher and Stacey.

Established by Executive Order 9419, February 4, 1944, the Bronze Star is the tenth highest military decoration and is awarded for heroic or meritorious achievement or service, not involving aerial flight, in connection with operations against an opposing armed force. Performance of duty must be above that normally expected and sufficient to distinguish the individual among those performing requirements for the Silver Star or Legion of Merit. Minor acts of heroism in actual combat, single acts of merit or meritorious service in connection with military operations may justify this award. A bronze V device is worn to denote valor.

"This is a long time coming," Pollione said to the Marines who attended the ceremony along with his family and friends. "Thank you for being here and making me see what I was so proud to be - a Marine.