LCDR Willard Sampson, USN '40 was lost 70 years ago today — the day before his 34th birthday — when the aircraft he was piloting crashed in Huddleston, Virginia. From the Lucky Bag: "The eternal ray of sunshine — no matter how tarnished that hypothetical silver lining may be, it never evades Sam. With this same optimism he treats studies lightly, even when in the shadow of the most ominous of academic eight-balls. Sam is a conscientious swimmer, and a strong arm of the Navy team, upon which a will to win and a rugged physique have earned him a well deserved berth. With his affable personality and ever present sense of humor, Sambo will always have many sincere friends, and his career, in following the footsteps of his brother in the service, is bound to be a happy one. You have made us mighty proud of you, Sammy."
Twice awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Commander Sampson was a carrier fighter pilot during the war and commanded Fighting Squadron 83 on board the carrier Essex. His duty assignment at the time of his death was with the Piloted Aircraft Division, Bureau of Aeronautics.
He was survived by his wife, Jean, and their girls, Jean, 7 and Helen, 5.
http://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/WILLARD_A._SAMPSON,_LCDR,_USN