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World War I Medal of Honor winner dies
On this day in 1979, Medal of Honor recipient Samuel M. Sampler died in
Fort Myers, Florida. Sampler was born at Decatur, Texas, on January 27,
1895, the son of Francis E. and Lorenza D. Sampler. He entered military
service at Altus, Oklahoma. Corporal Sampler was a member of Company H,
142d Infantry, Thirty-sixth Infantry Division, United States Army, on
October 8, 1918, near St. Étienne, France. His company suffered severe
losses from machine-gun fire, and its advance was stopped. Sampler
detected the enemy positions on an elevation. Armed with German
grenades, which he had picked up, he advanced alone until he was near
the enemy nest. His third grenade killed two Germans and caused the
surrender of twenty-eight more. As a result of his brave and unselfish
action the company was able to advance on its objective. Sampler
received the Medal of Honor from Gen. John J. Pershing on April 22,
1919. He was also awarded the French Croix de Guerre and Italian War
Cross.
- Links to Related Handbook of Texas Online Articles
- SAMPLER, SAMUEL M.
- THIRTY-SIXTH INFANTRY DIVISION
- PERSHING, JOHN JOSEPH
- WORLD WAR I
- Other Texas Day by Day Articles for This Date
- Mormons arrive in Texas (1845)
- Houston joins church (1854)
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