Every once in a while we come find a great story about a great person – here is one of those. Please send a birthday card for his 105th birthday!
Dear Everyone,
On 26 March 1915, Sam A. Sachs, the oldest of three children, was born in Grand Forks, North Dakota. He has had quite a storied life and now lives in Lakewood, CA. His plans for his 105th birthday party were shattered with the 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic. So, instead of birthday bash, Sam is asking for birthday cards! He especially was delighted and surprised recently when the Sultans’ Car Club, Long Beach, CA, had a parade of their vintage vehicles to honor him and his birthday.
So, you know a bit about WWII Lt. Col. (US Army Reserve, Retired) Sam A. Sachs, the following information about him is from various Internet articles:
In 1931, and while still in high school, Sam joined ROTC. In Oct 1940, at age 25, he registered for the Draft. Later, he was called to fight in WWII. As a 1st Lt., Sam first went to Fort Benning, Georgia. Later, he was assigned to the 82nd Airborne, 325th Glider Infantry to pilot gliders, affectionately known as Flying Coffins. On 6 June 1944, the 30-year old officer flew an unarmed glider carrying eight troops, machine guns and ammo, through anti-aircraft artillery fire, for their D-Day landing at Normandy, France. Upon landing the glider on a farm about two to three miles from Utah Beach (the farthest west of the five landings), Sam found only one bullet hole in the glider’s fuselage. Until the war’s end in 1945, Sam served as Company Commander in Casablanca, Morocco, Africa, Naples, Italy (see 1943 Naples picture) and other locations. He was also part of a group which helped liberate prisoners from a German concentration camp.
In 1946, Sam met Ida, bride of 58-years (she passed in 2005). Then, Sam attended the University of Southern California, where he obtained his teaching credential. He taught in several southern California schools, with his first teaching assignment at Wilmington High School. He then taught at Compton Junior High School, Roosevelt Adult School (east LA) and from 1955 to 1982, he taught at Huntington Park High School.
After Sam served with the US Army Reserves for 32-years, he retired as a Lt. Col. In 2017, Sam was honored by the 63rd California Assembly District, as the Lakewood, CA Veteran of the Year. On 6 June 2019, 75-years after helping liberate France from Nazi Germany’s grip, Christophe Lemoine, Consul General of France – Los Angeles, presented Lt. Col. Sachs with the French Legion of Honor. He also said, that by decree of French President Emmanuel Macron, Sam was appointed a Chevalier (Knight).
Should you want to send a birthday card to our WWII Hero and Veteran, his address is:
Lt. Col. (US Army Reserve, Retired) Sam A. Sachs
c/o Mom and Dad’s Manor House
4340 Conquista Avenue
Lakewood, CA 90713
Let’s shower Sam Sachs, a WWII Veteran who fought for the freedoms we enjoy today, with a lot of birthday cards, so he has an absolutely spectacular birthday! Also, we notified the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1874 in Grand Forks, ND, where Sam was born, about his upcoming birthday. They intend to let all the North Dakota VFWs know, so they can honor Sam, too! Maybe you can even pass this letter on to others who can send the message out to more people?!
Anne Constantin Birge and Ray Birge
Lincoln, CA
The Wounded Warrior Project – The greatest casualty is being forgotten.
