World War II Honoree

Samuel Shirley Payne

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Hancock, West Virginia

Honored By

Betsy Waters

Relationship

Granddaughter

MEMBER OF THE 82ND AIRBORNE AND WAS INVOLVED IN MOST OF THE MAJOR EUROPEAN CONFLICTS. HE WAS A GLIDER AT D-DAY AND WAS AT THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE. HIS BEST ADVICE TO NEW SOLDIERS WAS TO KEEP YOUR SOCKS DRY, NO MATTER WHAT. HE OFTEN STUFFED THEM UNDER HIS BELT OR UNDER HIS ARMS SO THAT HE ALWAYS HAD A DRY PAIR. HE BELIEVED UNTIL THE DAY HE DIED THAT THE TRUE HEROES WERE THE ONES KILLED DURING BATTLE.