James Hilliard Polk was born on December 13, 1911 at Camp McGraw in Batangas in the Philippines to Colonel Harding and Esther Fleming Polk. In 1933, he graduated from the U.S. Military Academy and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Cavalry. In early September 1944, Polk assumed command of the 3rd Cavalry Group, then in combat near Metz, France, and commanded it until the end of the war. During this time the unit was known as "Task Force Polk" and spearheaded many advances by General Walton Walker's XX Corps, part of General George S. Patton's Third Army. After WWII, Polk served several important positions during the Korean and Cold Wars. On September 1, 1964, Polk became Commanding General of V Corps. On April 1, 1971 General Polk retired from active duty. He died on February 18, 1992