Congressional Medal of Honor Society
Stories of Sacrifice
World War I - U.S. Army
Samuel Major Sampler
Details
- Rank: Corporal
- Conflict/Era: World War I
- Unit/Command:
Company H, 142d Infantry,
36th Division - Military Service Branch: U.S. Army
- Medal of Honor Action Date: October 8, 1918
- Medal of Honor Action Place: near St. Etienne, France
Citation
His company, having suffered severe casualties during an advance under machine-gun fire, was finally stopped. Cpl. Sampler detected the position of the enemy machine guns on an elevation. Armed with German hand grenades, 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 two, silencing the machine guns, 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.
Additional Details
- Accredited to: Altus, Jackson County, Oklahoma
- Awarded Posthumously: No
- Presentation Date & Details: May 2, 1919
Cheney, France, presented by Gen. William R. Smith
- Born: January 27, 1895, Decatur, Wise County, TX, United States
- Died: November 19, 1979, Fort Myers, FL, United States
- Buried: Memorial Gardens Cemetery (MH) (H-70), Fort Myers, FL, United States