Pvt. William Franklin Sampson, No. 755815, Medical Detachment of the 52nd Infantry, 6th Division
William Sampson was born on April 17, 1896 in West Virginia. He was drafted into the National Army on March 8, 1918 and served in the Medical Detachment of the 52nd Infantry until his discharge on June 19, 1919. In France, he participated in the 6th Division occupation of the Voges sector from August 30, 1918 to October 11, 1918. Afterwards he participated in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive from November 1, 1918 until November 9, 1918.
Below is the model 1917 tunic and pants of Pvt. Sampson which includes his medical corps collar disc, honorable discharge chevron,
two overseas service chevrons, victory ribbon with one campaign star and his Sixth Division/3rd Army shoulder patch. Also presented
is his campaign hat with medical corps cord, his overseas cap with veteran pins, a pair of gloves, a scarf, puttees, socks and gas mask.
William Sampson was born on April 17, 1896 in West Virginia. He was drafted into the National Army on March 8, 1918 and served in the Medical Detachment of the 52nd Infantry until his discharge on June 19, 1919. In France, he participated in the 6th Division occupation of the Voges sector from August 30, 1918 to October 11, 1918. Afterwards he participated in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive from November 1, 1918 until November 9, 1918.
Below is the model 1917 tunic and pants of Pvt. Sampson which includes his medical corps collar disc, honorable discharge chevron,
two overseas service chevrons, victory ribbon with one campaign star and his Sixth Division/3rd Army shoulder patch. Also presented
is his campaign hat with medical corps cord, his overseas cap with veteran pins, a pair of gloves, a scarf, puttees, socks and gas mask.
Presented below is Pvt. Sampsons hospital corps belt, manufactured by R.H. Long, his mess kit, canteen with cover, and a souvenir hate belt that he
picked up overseas. The belt feature a Model 1895 Prussian belt and buckle, decorated with several buttons of the belligerent armies.
picked up overseas. The belt feature a Model 1895 Prussian belt and buckle, decorated with several buttons of the belligerent armies.
Pictured below are Pvt. Sampson's dog tags on their original cord, his Victory Medal with Meuse Argonne and Defensive Sector bars, his copy of the New Testament he carried in France, with his name and unit written inside, a pocket size American flag, a Son in Service medical corps pin and photo frame, his Individual Pay Record Book, assorted souvenir papers, his ditty bag, a souvenir handkerchief and an Iron Cross 2nd Class (the ring has been removed).
Pictured below is a oval painting of Pvt. Sampson and an original group photograph of the Medical Detachment of the 52nd Infantry. Sampson is located in the photo as the soldier third from the right. Also depicted is his original Honorable Discharge and Enlistment Record, a copy of his WW1 Registration Form, a photograph of his tombstone, a copy of the 1920 census listing his occupation as a soldier, and a copy of the 1930 census listing his status as a veteran of WW1.