Eli and Sophia

Friday, March 2, 2012

Barbara Belet Sampson--Some Personal History


JL reports: Partway through my 2 1/2 years as an instructor at the Adjutant General School, Ft. Benjamin Harrison, IN, my immediate boss (a major & division chief), asked that I be reassigned (fired). The request would have been to (or at least through) the Director of the Command & Staff Department, a full colonel. After a couple of visits (to the back of the classroom) by the colonel, and a little period of time, it was determined that my immediate boss would be moved (to downstairs), and I would stay in my instructor position.
WHY? In some part, at least, it was because the colonel liked Barbara and the job she was doing as faculty wife advisor to the Adjutant General Basic Course wives (in those days, this was a challenge with their (preconceived?) attitudes; peace symbol ear rings; patch dresses; etc.).
If Barbara was to have a title, it would be: Barbara Ann Belet Sampson, daughter of SSgt Robert A. Belet, USMC, killed in action, 1942, Guadalcanal, namesake of the USS Belet; & then, wife of Jon L. Sampson, Maj, US Army.###

Sue adds:  Barbara's father was awarded the Silver Star for his bravery in combat in restoring a vital communications line at Guadalcanal a few days before he was killed. A rapid transport ship was named for him, and relocated troops during the ending days of WW II.  After WW II, the ship was decommissioned by the US ans was sold to the Mexican navy, which rechristened it as the "California." It was operated until it was wrecked on the coast of Baja California Sur.  

 

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