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Personal info

Full name
SAM, Paul
Date of birth
4 November 1925
Age
19
Place of birth
Cloquet, Carlton County, Minnesota
Hometown
Isle, Mille Lacs County, Minnesota
Ethnicity
Native American

Military service

Service number
37582726
Rank
Private First Class
Function
unknown
Unit
406th Infantry Regiment,
102nd Infantry Division
Awards
Purple Heart

Death

Status
unknown
Date of death
3 March 1945
Place of death
unknown

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
P 19 1

Immediate family

Members
Frank Sam (father)
Ida Sam (mother)
Edward Sam (brother)
Joseph Sam (brother)
Adeline Sam (sister)

More information

Paul Sam was a member of the Ojibwe tribe.

His father could not speak English well and did not understand War Departments letter for making a choice whether to permantly bury his body overseas or to repatriate him to the US. That's the reason why Paul's remains were buried at Margraten. According to Native-American tradition, he should have a ceremony to have his soul be freed.

Source of information: André Koch, Terry Hirsch, www.fold3.com - WWII Draft Card, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com - 1930 Census / U.S.
Headstone an Interment Records for U.S. Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil 1942-1949

Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Des Philippet, Vivian LaMoore