James William Sampers

James William Sampers graduated from Father Flanagan's Boys' Home, or Boys Town, in Nebraska. He went on to join the Navy and specialized in interior communications electronics. Sampers started his tour in South Vietnam in December 1968 and was stationed near Saigon. On September 7, 1969 Sampers was killed when an enemy claymore mine exploded, which ejected him from his Jeep. The 27-year-old’s body was returned to Iowa and buried at Saint Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Storm Lake. Sampers left behind a wife, three sons, and a daughter.