More detail on this person: Black Sam Kalagian
passed away from cancer at 4 am this morning. He
was residing in Alabama near Ft. Rucker with his
wife. For those of you who didn't know him, or
of him, he basically brought 25th Aviation
Battalion to Vietnam. He was a fighter pilot in
WWII, flew during Korea and Vietnam. As the
Battalion Commander, Black Sam was shot down
on approach to Soc Trang in April 1966 causing a
very hard landing that nearly broke his back. He
was limping across the airfield as best as he
could sort of dragging his right side when a
general officer stopped him and asked him where he
was going. He was trying his best to get another
aircraft so he could be back in the air to help
lead counterattacks etc. The general stopped him
and said "No son, you've done enough for today.
You are going to the hospital to get checked out."
He spent several months in recovery. He was also
an archetypal scrounger and taught the battalion
the need and art of scrounging for survival. He
was an OLD BOLD PILOT!
Read the '25th Aviation Battalion.org under
'Battalion history' for more. May God be with
him, and his family during this trying time.
From: Ercie Leach
Retired U.S. Army Col. Samuel P. Kalagian, "Black
Sam," of 314 Sand Creek Drive, Enterprise, died
Saturday morning, May 4, 2002 in the Medical
Center Enterprise after an extended illness. He
was 78 years old and still fighting the good
fight. Memorial services will be 2 p.m. Thursday
from the Patterson-Sorrells Funeral Home Chapel.
The family suggests in lieu of flowers,
contributions can be made to the charity of your
choice in Sam's memory. Sam served his country
for 33 years. He began as a fighter pilot in
World War II at Iwo Jima and the invasion of
Japan, with 2 * kills. After World War II, he
activated back into the Army as an infantry
officer/aviator. His tours of duty included
Korea, Germany, Hawaii, Vietnam, Italy and the
continental United States of America. He earned
his Master Aviator Wings and graduated from the
University of Southern Mississippi.
He eared his combat nickname, "Black Sam" (The
Armenian Rug Salesman), while serving as battalion
commander of the 25th and 14th Aviation Battalions
in Vietnam. He was shot down twice in Vietnam,
earning the Purple Heart for combat injuries.
Sam began a successful real estate career after he
and his wife Ruby retired in 1976 in Enterprise.
He was active in the Retired Officers Association,
twice serving as president. Sam was also much in
demand for lectures on Army Aviation history at
the Aviation Museum.
Sam was preceded in death by his son, John in
July 2000, and his beloved wife, Ruby in August
2000.
Survivors include one son, Sam Kalagian Jr.,
Panama City Beach, FL.; one daughter Jo Alice K.
Harp, McCalla; one sister, Mary Walczal, Erie,
PA,.; one brother, Seth Kalagian, Vineland, NJ.;
four grandchildren; two great grandchildren and
many cousins, nieces, nephews and loving in-laws.
Serving, as honorary pallbearers will be Larry
Rohdes, Hugh McNabb, Carl Burchfield, Ron
Smialek and Eugene Walczak.
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
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