Maj Sam Michael Savas, Vietnam Veteran. Born in Greece, he became a resident of Miami, Florida.
Major Sam Michael Savas Jr was a casualty of the Vietnam War. As a member of the Army, MAJ Savas served our country until October 12th, 1965 in South Vietnam. He was 37 years old and was married. It was reported that Sam died from a stroke. His body was recovered. Sam was born on March 24th, 1928 in Athens,Greece. MAJ Savas is on panel 02E, line 120 of the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington D.C. He served our country for 14 years.
Maj Sam Michael Savas of Miami, Fla., a former assistant professor of military science at The Citadel in Charleston, S.C., was also listed as dead of causes not related to combat. Savas, 37, is the husband of Mrs. Josephine D. Savas of Miami. He was a 1951 graduate of The Citadel. [extracted from article published in the High Point (NC) Enterprise, 10/14/1965, pg 10A]. Posted by Judy Forgos.
He was twice decorated with the Bronze Star for valor during combat, served under Gen. William Westmoreland in Vietnam. He was 37 when he died from combat-related injuries on Oct. 12, 1965. Cadet members of the Society of American Military Engineers decided to erect the Bulldog monument in his honor.
Savas Jr. was a faculty adviser to the society and while at The Citadel, he had begun collecting brass for a monument to inspire competitive spirit in athletes and other cadets. The bulldog is the school’s mascot.
As a cadet and teacher at The Citadel, Sam M. Savas Jr. so inspired cadets that after his death in Vietnam in 1965 they melted their brass belt buckles and name plates to create the school’s famous Bulldog monument in his honor.
Maj Sam Michael Savas Jr served as a Major with Engineer Division, Headquarters Battalion, 1st Logistics Command, United Stated Army Vietnam.
Some of his Awards and Decorations include two Bronze Stars,the National Defense Service Medal, The Vietnam Service Medal, The Vietnam Campaign Medal and The Vietnamese Gallantry Cross Unit Citation.
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