Samuel, John S., 1913-2002

John S. Samuel (b. 1913, St. Louis, Mo.-d. Apr. 1, 2002), U.S. Air Force officer, graduated from West Point in 1939 and completed flying training the following year. In 1943 he went to Europe as group operations officer, 391st Bombardment Group, and later became commander, 322nd Bombardment Group. He flew 72 B-26 missions over France, Germany, and Central Europe. After World War II he was an instructor at the U.S. Military Academy and served in various positions at U.S. Air Force HQ. In the mid-1950s, General Samuel assumed command of Task Group 7.4, conducting nuclear weapons tests in the Pacific, and after several Air Division commands in the U.S., he returned to nuclear testing in 1961. In 1968 he was assigned to the Office of the Secretary of Defense (Research and Engineering), and in 1970 became commander, Air Training Command's Lackland Military Training Center. He retired in 1972.