Lieutenant Colonel Sampson F. Metz, US Army (Armor) retired, died Sunday, August 19, 2018. He was born on February 16, 1928 in Catskill, NY, one of four children of Francis and Ellis (Jones) Metz. He was raised on the streets of Manhattan in New York City, during the Great Depression. He quit high school to join the wartime Navy in the closing days of WWII. He saw duty as a seaman and fireman aboard deep water fleet tugs and two aircraft carriers. After his discharge, he returned to NYC with plans to use the GI Bill to complete his education, but when Soviet Russia blockaded Berlin, he enlisted in the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, forming Fort Meade, MD. When promoted to Sergeant and alerted for occupation duty in Germany, he and the love of his life, Ann J. Horgan, daughter of Dennis and May (Sullivan) Horgan, were married in NYC. He sailed for Germany ten days later, was assigned to the U.S. Constabulary’s 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment, and two months later he was joined by his wife in Augsburg, Germany. After a year of border security duty, he was ordered to apply for officer training school. Six months after approval of his application he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant (Armor) at Fort Knox, KY. Following OCS, Sam and Ann were stationed at Fort Leonard Wood. When alerted for transfer to Alaska, Ann returned to NYC where she gave birth to their son, Robert, and then rejoined Sampson at Fort Richardson, AK, where their next son, Edmund was born.
Over the years that followed, they served at Fort Meade, Amburg, Germany, Fort Knox, Fort Lewis, and Ford Carson. Sampson served two unaccompanied tours in Southeast Asia. He served one year in Thailand, and later served in Viet Nam with the 4th Infantry Division, earning the US Army Legion of Merit for his performance of three years of duty in the 4th Division, culminating in his performance as Assistant Division G2. During his time in Viet Nam, Ann served as a volunteer nurse’s aide, tending wounded veterans at Madigan General Hospital, Fort Lewis, WA. Upon his return to the US, Sampson was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and assigned to the US Army Armor School at Fort Knox. His final assignment was as the Executive Officer of the 2nd Brigade of the 4th Armor Division in Germany. He retired in June, 1971, and settled the family in Derry, NH.
He and Ann were privileged to assist as ushers and greeters at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Derry.
During their married years, Sampson and Ann spent a total of seven years apart, due to unaccompanied tours of duty, military schooling, special duty assignments, etc. Upon Sampson’s military retirement, they devoted themselves to making up for those seven years, until her death in 2011. Wherever they are now, they are still, and always will be, hand in hand.
He is survived by his sons, Robert K. Metz of Ipswich, MA and Edmund D. Metz of Derry, two granddaughters, one grandson, his sister, Pauline Scherer of Walton, NY and his brother, Paul W. Metz of Glens Falls, NY. He was predeceased by his older brother Edward F. Metz of Oakland, CA.
Sam was interred with Ann at the NH State Veterans Cemetery at Boscawen on Thursday, August 23, 2018. The Peabody Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 15 Birch Street, Derry handled the arrangements.