Leslie Verne Sampson

Vietnam War
Unit314th Air Division
RankStaff Sergeant U.S. Air Force
Entered Service FromRichey Montana
Date of DeathMarch 23 1961
StatusRecovered
Memorialized
Courts of the Missing
Court
A
Notes
Staff Sergeant Sampson was a member of 314th Air Division, Osan Airbase, Korea. On March 23, 1961, he was the radio operator of a Skytrain Transport Aircraft (C-47) on a flight from Vientiane to Saigon. Enroute the pilot turned north towards Xieng Khouangville, Laos to gather intelligence. Pathet Lao anti-aircraft shot the aircraft down. His remains were recovered on July 11, 1991 and identified on November 29, 1991. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial.
rosetta medal
When an individual’s remains have been accounted for by the U.S. Department of Defense, a rosette is placed next to the name on the Wall/Tablet/Court of the Missing to mark that the person now rests in a known gravesite.