"...I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth … and touched the face of God".
Posted on 05/13/2009 4:00:25 AM PDT by calcowgirl
National and local political activist, decorated veteran, POW advocate, businessman and master potter Ted Sampley passed away Tuesday. He was 62.
Sampley, who was recovering from heart surgery a week earlier, was experiencing difficulties from the surgery at the Veteran's Hospital in Durham on Tuesday. He died while being rushed to surgery.
His sudden passing surprised many in Kinston.
"This is a shock to me," said master shipbuilder Alton Stapleford, the architect of the CSS Neuse II, which Sampley helped bring to fruition. "It's really hard to comprehend right now."
Sampley served several tours of duty in Vietnam in the U.S. Army and won four Bronze Stars, the Army Commendation Medal and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, among other honors. He was honorably discharged during 1973.
His work with prisoner of war and missing in action groups didn't start in earnest until 1983, when he led groups demanding that the United States put pressure on Vietnam to release POWs or explain what happened to them.
(snip)
Sampley was well-known on the national stage. He formed Web sites and led veteran groups against the candidacies of Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry and Republican presidential nominee John McCain.
Conservative talk-show host Rush Limbaugh mentioned Sampley on his national radio broadcast in 2004 for an incident with Kerry when the senator from Massachusetts allegedly gave Sampley a vulgar finger gesture in front of school children at the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, D.C. Sampley also helped create the Web site "Vietnam Veterans against John McCain."
Sampley was also busy on the local front. During the past decade or so, Sampley helped found the local Salute festival, started construction on the CSS Neuse II and helped begin the National Walk of Honor at Neuseway Park that also honors veterans.
(snip)
(Excerpt) Read more at enctoday.com ...
"...I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth … and touched the face of God".
If John would quit playing into the hands of the most radical leftists in our nation, I wouldn’t criticize him so much.
When he teams up with Goerge Soros, Teressa Heinz Kerry, the Tides Foundation, Ted Kennedy, Russel Feingold, and makes public statements supportive of Obama and his policies, I cannot remain mute on his predilection to do severe almost fatal damage to our cause.
People like John McCain can utter one sentence, and totally destroy our stand on issues. And John does this constantly. We need Gitmo. Obama wants to close it. So what does John do? He suggests we need to close Gitmo. We’re fighting against the global warming crowd right now. So what does John do? He says they are right and he wants to support their efforts.
On issue after issue, John McCain defeats Conservative momentum, and provides support to our ideological enemies.
Do I think John is a Manchurian candidate? No. I honestly don’t. What I do think, is that John has never in his life paid attention to any authority other than himself. He didn’t as a youth. He didn’t in his military training. He didn’t as a Freshman Congressman. He hasn’t as a Senator. So John spouts off do to a lack of understanding on issues, and fowls things up constantly.
He is one of the most ignorant, self-absorbed, destructive forces I have seen in my lifetime.
I find it almost impossible to believe that John handled himself with honor as a P.O.W. That may be my failing. Perhaps I’m being very unfair to him. I can only judge the likelihood of him handling himself well, based on how he has handled himself during the non-military parts of his life.
That being the case, this man is untrustworthy on every level.
D1, while I agree with what you said, I must also reinforce what I think smoothsailing was concerned about. (I’m not singling you out — just think it needs to be said)
Let’s keep the thread about Ted Sampley, not John McCain.
I expressed to SS in freepmail, that I think mention of his work in exposing those he felt unfit to be president (Kerry/McCain) should rightfully be mentioned on this thread because it was a large part of his legacy. Smoothsailing remembers him as a brother; others (incl. me) remember him as an activist; and probably hundred of others have their own memory of his all-too-short life.
Ted passionately worked for causes he believed in. May he RIP.
Oh sure, single me out!!!! ;-)
I think your comments are reasoned. I touched on the McCain issue after I saw that others had.
SmoothSailing, no offense was intended. I am very sensitive to RINOs destroying our party, and so my passion sometimes overtakes my reverence for individuals in passing.
Please accept my apology. I was off topic and I am did not mean to slight Ted at all.
Calcowgirl,
I recieved this via e-mail this morning from a good friend and brother-in-arms, John Molloy.
I think it is appropriate for this thread, and wanted to share it with you.
(No offense taken, Doughty One, all is well) :)
...........................................................
Hi R....,
I thought that you might want to see this testament to Ted.
John
-—— Forwarded Message -——
From: John Molloy
Sent: Thursday, May 14, 2009 1:31:15 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern
Subject: Re: Ted’s Celebration
To Lane who is no longer the little boy who sat with me at Coalition Breakfasts and to my Brothers and Sisters - Veterans & POW Activists.
THE PASSING OF A GREAT AMERICAN PATRIOT
I awakened just about sunrise on Monday morning, May 11, 2009 and as I usually do, I checked the perimeter. On the northern boundary of the property, about three hundred yards out, I saw what appeared to be the image of a man. Wondering who might be so audacious to be trespassing
in the middle of what is a vast open area, I reached for my binoculars. On closer examination, what I thought was a man was actually a hawk perched on my no trespassing sign. I gazed at the hawk for a few moments and then suddenly it took flight. It was only this morning that I realized what might have been the significance of what I had observed. The next day, I learned that my old friend, Ted Sampley, ‘Red Hawk’ (of Red Hawk Construction)
who had undergone extensive bypass surgery on Monday had expired suddenly on Tuesday. In restrospect, I cannot help but wonder, not having seen Ted as frequently over the last few years (the last time at dinner in June 2007 with Earl and Patti Hopper, Billy Hendon, Top Holland, Jerry Kiley, Joe Millner, Frank Emiro,et al) if the hawk was a message from Ted.
Sadly, American prisoners of war have have lost one of their greatest defenders. Ted has gone to the place where he will be welcomed by other great POW`activists: Col. Nick Rowe, Col. Ear Hopper, Senator Jeremiah Denton, Col. Laird Gutterson... and all the American prisoners of war who have expired in enemy captivity but who Ted so ably defended. These giants and heroes will be in their rightful place in heaven and one can only hope that their (and our) opponents and detractors, opponents of truth, justice and freedom, will go to their rightful place.
I first met Ted on Sunday, November 4, 1984 in Lafayette Park, in Washington, DC at a POW Rally. I was in town to attend a meeting of representatives of veterans organizations from Long Island (NY) with government representatives (the usual dog and pony show) at the White House Executive Office Building. Along with other members of the RELEASE Foundation, I met with a few activists at the rally and I noticed a veteran wearing a green beret who did not seem to be feeling well. The veteran and I spoke briefly and he asked what I intended to discuss at the meeting. Unlike the others who were going to attend the meeting, I was wearing camouflage fatigues and green and black face paint. After emerging from the meeting, he learned that I had upset the other attendees not only because of my appearance but also from my comments about our government who was deceiving us under the facade of ‘the highest national priority’. The veteran in the green beret was Ted Sampley. Our friendship began on that day over two decades ago. Thereafter, we shared many experiences in Washington DC, at the Mall, the White House, the Capitol the Laotian and Vietnamese Missions and at the UN fighting for the return of our missing men. POW-MIA family members, activists, organizations and the National Vietnam Veterans Coalition proudly accepted the label given to us by the government opposition in 1985: ‘ the Rambo Faction’ as our nom de guerre and Ted though his actions and defiance was Rambo in every sense of the word.
Over the years, we continued to apply pressure to our government and communist adversaries though the number of activists and energy began to diminish. Ted was instrumental in revitalizing the effort by helping to initiate the first Rolling Thunder Rally in DC in 1988 and founding a newspaper devoted to the plight of our prisoners of war and missing in action: ‘The Bamboo Connection’ which over the years blossomed into the U.S Veterans
Dispatch which continued to provide vital information on our POW-MIAs and on veterans issues. Ted’s initiative, energy and brilliance enabled the POW issue to emerge from the activist stage to the intellectual via Ted’s early mastery of the computer and the information highway. For a number of years Ted served as a senor officer of the National Vietnam Veterans Coalition and he continued to provide motivation for later activist and legislative efforts on behalf of our POW-MIAs. In the midst of all his efforts on behalf of our POW-MIAs, including traveling to Thailand to distribute the reward offer across the Mekong River, Ted managed a profitable business, and even had a personal life. His energy was boundless.
During one of my several ‘interviews’ with federal law enforcement officials (terrorist task force) during the 1980s who considered the activities of the RELEASE Foundation suspect, they asked me about Ted. I replied then and I still feel today: ‘that Ted Sampley is one of the finest Americans with whom I would be most proud to serve in the save foxhole and die with’. I was called incorrigible, but Ted was incorrigibility personified and a true representative of the Spirit of America.
Ted, my friend you shall be greatly missed by many. You were truly today’s Brave Heart and your boots will be extremely difficut to fill.
RED HAWK is on the wing and an inspiration to us all!
John J Molloy
Chairman
National Vietnam & Gulf War Veterans Coalition
Thank you for sharing that. A wonderful tribute.
I never had the honor of meeting Ted, but I heard plenty about him. I owe him (and others) a great debt of gratitude. He fought to keep John Kerry from harming my son.
Thanks Freema. I think that’s an excellent point.
You bet it is.
He was one who stood in the trenches between Kerry, et al, and my son’s generation.
JUST A COMMON SOLDIER
(A Soldier Died Today)
by A. Lawrence Vaincourt
He was getting old and paunchy and his hair was falling fast,
And he sat around the Legion, telling stories of the past
Of a war that he had fought in and the deeds that he had done,
In his exploits with his buddies; they were heroes, every one.
And tho’ sometimes, to his neighbors, his tales became a joke,
All his Legion buddies listened, for they knew whereof he spoke.
But we’ll hear his tales no longer for old Bill has passed away,
And the world’s a little poorer, for a soldier died today.
He will not be mourned by many, just his children and his wife,
For he lived an ordinary and quite uneventful life.
Held a job and raised a family, quietly going his own way,
And the world won’t note his passing, though a soldier died today.
When politicians leave this earth, their bodies lie in state,
While thousands note their passing and proclaim that they were great.
Papers tell their whole life stories, from the time that they were young,
But the passing of a soldier goes unnoticed and unsung.
Is the greatest contribution to the welfare of our land
A guy who breaks his promises and cons his fellow man?
Or the ordinary fellow who, in times of war and strife,
Goes off to serve his Country and offers up his life?
A politician’s stipend and the style in which he lives
Are sometimes disproportionate to the service that he gives.
While the ordinary soldier, who offered up his all,
Is paid off with a medal and perhaps, a pension small.
It’s so easy to forget them for it was so long ago,
That the old Bills of our Country went to battle, but we know
It was not the politicians, with their compromise and ploys,
Who won for us the freedom that our Country now enjoys.
Should you find yourself in danger, with your enemies at hand,
Would you want a politician with his ever-shifting stand?
Or would you prefer a soldier, who has sworn to defend
His home, his kin and Country and would fight until the end?
He was just a common soldier and his ranks are growing thin,
But his presence should remind us we may need his like again.
For when countries are in conflict, then we find the soldier’s part
Is to clean up all the troubles that the politicians start.
If we cannot do him honor while he’s here to hear the praise,
Then at least let’s give him homage at the ending of his days.
Perhaps just a simple headline in a paper that would say,
Our Country Is In Mourning, For A Soldier Died Today.
© 1985 A. Lawrence Vaincourt
I knew Ted for over 20 years, we probably met. I was Ted’s son-in-law.
Ted was everything you have said and more. He is probably the embodiment of George S. Patton in the latter part of the last century and the first of the present century.
Thank you for your post. Ted is now rejoicing with his brothers of the movement and we who remain must do our best to fill his shoes.
HOW CAN I HELP?
First of all, ....
WELCOME TO FREE REPUBLIC!!!
Now just so you know, I never had the honor of meeting Ted, but we did exchange a few e-mails in 2006, when I was working for John Murtha's opponent, Diana Irey.
Also, "Red Hawk" and I have many mutual friends and brothers, Captain Larry Bailey being one I'm sure you must know.
As to how you can help, stay involved when you can here at Free Republic and join on what we call "ping" lists with two fine friends of mine here.
Red Rover runs the "Defend Our Marines" list, and jazusamo runs the "Murtha Watch" and "Bill Russell for Congress" list.
I'm sending this reply along to them so they will be aware of your interest.
Again, Welcome, and thank you for your kind words.
Welcome to Free Republic, Stephanie. You’re among like-minded people. Most of us came here asking the same question.
Sounds good to me.
I am trying to find out how to join the Ping you speak of and will do so asap.
Again, Ted Sampley was, to me, the embodiment of the True American Hero like our Forefathers that created the great nation we live in.
We cannot afford to let great men like Ted Sampley and George Washington down by letting our guard down and allowing the liberal minority take over.
Remember, it was the difference of one vote that put Hitler into power. We, according to Ted, must be ever vigilant and always ready to stand up for what is right, no matter what the cost.
Welcome to Free Republic, Stephen.
To be placed on a ping list just post to the keeper of the list in a thread “Post Reply” or “Private Reply” and request to be added to whatever particular ping list it is.
I have added you to the Bill Russel for Congress and the Murtha Watch pings lists that I keep. Should you not desire to be on one or both just notify me to be removed. I added RedRover’s name to this reply which will alert him of this and he will contact you and will add your name to his list.
I never had the honor of meeting Ted Sampley, he was a true patriot.
I knew Ted personally for over 20 years. He was my father-in-law. He was also my best friend. Today he will be interned and yet he still lives in my heart.
It is hard to shed tears because of the great life he lived but it is hard not to shed tears because of the love and inspiration that he was to his friends, family and me.
Wendy and Lane (his oldest daughter and son) are going to take up the Rolling Thunder responsibilities for this next Rolling Thunder event I just hope they can keep the inspiration and fire burning.
None of us can afford to let the light that Ted lit burn out.
Frankly, Ted, my father and Grandfather (a WWII decorated Naval Hero) were my living heroes. Now I have lost 2 and it hurts like hell but all of us suffer loss and must go on and do our best to keep up the good work and examples set by these great men of current history.
I will miss hearing Ted’s voice.
Bigjohn
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