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: 01/11/2025
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