Index: docs/manual/mod/mod_proxy.xml
===================================================================
--- docs/manual/mod/mod_proxy.xml	(revision 649505)
+++ docs/manual/mod/mod_proxy.xml	(working copy)
@@ -663,6 +663,16 @@
     in the pool the Apache will return <code>SERVER_BUSY</code> status to
     the client.
     </td></tr>
+    <tr><td>disablereuse</td>
+        <td>Off</td>
+        <td>This parameter should be used when you want to force mod_proxy
+    to immediately close a connection to the backend after being used, and
+    thus, disable its persistant connection and pool for that backend.
+    This helps in various situations where a firewall between Apache and
+    the backend server (irregardless of protocol) tends to silently
+    drop connections. To prevent mod_proxy from reusing the backend connection,
+    set this property value to <code>On</code>. 
+    </td></tr>
     <tr><td>flushpackets</td>
         <td>off</td>
         <td>Determines whether the proxy module will auto-flush the output
Index: CHANGES
===================================================================
--- CHANGES	(revision 649505)
+++ CHANGES	(working copy)
@@ -1,6 +1,10 @@
                                                          -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 Changes with Apache 2.2.9
 
+  *) Added 'disablereuse' option for ProxyPass which, essentially,
+     disables connection pooling for the backend servers.
+     [Jim Jagielski]
+
   *) mod_speling: remove regression from 1.3/2.0 behavior and
      drop dependency between mod_speling and AcceptPathInfo.
      PR 43562 [Jose Kahan <jose w3.org>]
Index: modules/proxy/proxy_util.c
===================================================================
--- modules/proxy/proxy_util.c	(revision 649505)
+++ modules/proxy/proxy_util.c	(working copy)
@@ -1617,7 +1617,8 @@
 #endif
 
     /* determine if the connection need to be closed */
-    if (conn->close_on_recycle || conn->close) {
+    if (conn->close_on_recycle || conn->close || worker->disablereuse ||
+        !worker->is_address_reusable) {
         apr_pool_t *p = conn->pool;
         apr_pool_clear(conn->pool);
         memset(conn, 0, sizeof(proxy_conn_rec));
@@ -1771,8 +1772,13 @@
     if (!worker->retry_set) {
         worker->retry = apr_time_from_sec(PROXY_WORKER_DEFAULT_RETRY);
     }
-    /* By default address is reusable */
-    worker->is_address_reusable = 1;
+    /* By default address is reusable unless DisableReuse is set */
+    if (worker->disablereuse) {
+        worker->is_address_reusable = 0;
+    }
+    else {
+        worker->is_address_reusable = 1;
+    }
 
 #if APR_HAS_THREADS
     ap_mpm_query(AP_MPMQ_MAX_THREADS, &mpm_threads);
@@ -1984,7 +1990,8 @@
      *
      * TODO: Handle this much better...
      */
-    if (!conn->hostname || !worker->is_address_reusable ||
+    if (!conn->hostname || !worker->is_address_reusable || 
+         worker->disablereuse ||
          (r->connection->keepalives &&
          (r->proxyreq == PROXYREQ_PROXY || r->proxyreq == PROXYREQ_REVERSE) &&
          (strcasecmp(conn->hostname, uri->hostname) != 0) ) ) {
Index: modules/proxy/mod_proxy.c
===================================================================
--- modules/proxy/mod_proxy.c	(revision 649505)
+++ modules/proxy/mod_proxy.c	(working copy)
@@ -168,6 +168,15 @@
             return "KeepAlive must be On|Off";
         worker->keepalive_set = 1;
     }
+    else if (!strcasecmp(key, "disablereuse")) {
+        if (!strcasecmp(val, "on"))
+            worker->disablereuse = 1;
+        else if (!strcasecmp(val, "off"))
+            worker->disablereuse = 0;
+        else
+            return "DisableReuse must be On|Off";
+        worker->disablereuse_set = 1;
+    }
     else if (!strcasecmp(key, "route")) {
         /* Worker route.
          */
Index: modules/proxy/mod_proxy.h
===================================================================
--- modules/proxy/mod_proxy.h	(revision 649505)
+++ modules/proxy/mod_proxy.h	(working copy)
@@ -337,6 +337,8 @@
     apr_interval_time_t ping_timeout;
     char ping_timeout_set;
     char            retry_set;
+    char            disablereuse;
+    char            disablereuse_set;
 };
 
 /*