Samuel M. Sampler
Encyclopedia
Samuel M. Sampler was a United States Army
soldier who received the Medal of Honor
for his actions during the World War I
.
, Sampler was raised in Audubon, New Jersey
. He enlisted in the Army from Altus, Oklahoma
, and served in Europe as a corporal
with Company H of the 142nd Infantry Regiment, 36th Division. During an attack near Saint-Étienne-à-Arnes
, France, on October 8, 1918, his company's advance was halted and they took took heavy casualties from a German machine gun nest. Sampler single-handedly charged the hostile position and silenced it with hand grenades, killing two German soldiers and capturing 28. For this action, he was awarded the Medal of Honor
the next year, in 1919.
Sampler's official Medal of Honor citation reads:
Sampler died at age 84 on November 19, 1979, and was buried at Fort Myers Memorial Gardens in Fort Myers, Florida
.
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
soldier who received the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
for his actions during the World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
Biography
Born on January 27, 1895, in Decatur, TexasDecatur, Texas
Decatur is a city located in Wise County, Texas, United States. This city was named after Stephen Decatur, Jr. The population was 5,201 at the 2000 census. A July 1, 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimate placed the population at 6,432. It is the county seat of Wise County...
, Sampler was raised in Audubon, New Jersey
Audubon, New Jersey
Audubon is a Borough in Camden County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 8,819.On March 13, 1905, through an act of the New Jersey Legislature, Audubon was created a borough from portions of Haddon Township. It was named after John James...
. He enlisted in the Army from Altus, Oklahoma
Altus, Oklahoma
Altus is a city in Jackson County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 19,813 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Jackson County....
, and served in Europe as a corporal
Corporal
Corporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries and by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. It is usually equivalent to NATO Rank Code OR-4....
with Company H of the 142nd Infantry Regiment, 36th Division. During an attack near Saint-Étienne-à-Arnes
Saint-Étienne-à-Arnes
Saint-Étienne-à-Arnes is a commune in the Ardennes department in northern France.-Population:-References:*...
, France, on October 8, 1918, his company's advance was halted and they took took heavy casualties from a German machine gun nest. Sampler single-handedly charged the hostile position and silenced it with hand grenades, killing two German soldiers and capturing 28. For this action, he was awarded the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
the next year, in 1919.
Sampler's official Medal of Honor citation reads:
His company having suffered severe casualties during an advance under machinegun fire, was finally stopped. Cpl. Sampler detected the position of the enemy machineguns on an elevation. Armed with German handgrenades, which he had picked up, he left the line and rushed forward in the face of heavy fire until he was near the hostile nest, where he grenaded the position. His third grenade landed among the enemy, killing 2, silencing the machineguns, and causing the surrender of 28 Germans, whom he sent to the rear as prisoners. As a result of his act the company was immediately enabled to resume the advance.
Sampler died at age 84 on November 19, 1979, and was buried at Fort Myers Memorial Gardens in Fort Myers, Florida
Fort Myers, Florida
Fort Myers is the county seat and commercial center of Lee County, Florida, United States. Its population was 62,298 in the 2010 census, a 29.23 percent increase over the 2000 figure....
.
See also
- List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War I