(DE-1048: dp. 3,400 (f.) ; l. 414'6"; b. 44'; dr. 24'6"; s. 27+ k.; cpl. 239; a. 2 5", ASROC, 8 tt.; cl. Garcia)
William Dodge Sample was born in Buffalo, N.Y., on 9 March 1898. Following graduation from the Naval Academy in June 1918, he reported for duty in Henderson. For meritorious service during a fire on board that ship, he received a letter of commendation from the Secretary of the Navy. Detached in August, he served on several destroyers based at Queenstown, Ireland, during the remainder of World War I. He remained in the European Waters Detachment after the end of the war; and, in December 1921, was transferred to the gunboat, Pampanga, on the Asiatic Station. A year later, he returned to the United States for flight training and was designated a Naval Aviator on 23 June 1923.
After duty in several observation squadrons, he served on board the carriers Saratoga and Lexington, commanding VF 5 on the latter. During 1938 and 1939, he served in Ranger; and, after the outbreak of World War II, assisted in the conversion of Santee. Assuming command of that escort carrier on its commissioning, he was awarded a letter of commendation for service during Operation "Torch," the invasion of North Africa. On 19 April 1944, he assumed command of Intrepid. In May, he was transferred to the command of Hornet; and, in the ensuing months, participated in operations in the Marianas and in strikes against the Volcano Islands. Detached in August, he was promoted to Rear Admiral and successively commanded Carrier Divisions 24, 27, and 22. With the latter from February 1945, he was listed as missing on 2 October 1945 after his plane failed to return from a familiarization flight near Wakayama, Japan. Rear Admiral Sample was officially declared dead on 3 October 1946.
Sample (DE-1048) was laid down on 19 July 1963 by the Puget Sound Bridge and Dry Dock Co., Lockheed Aircraft Corp., Seattle, Wash.; launched on 28 April 1964; sponsored by Mrs. David M. Abshire, daughter of Rear Admiral Sample; and commissioned on 23 March 1968, Comdr. Ronald T. Kelly in command.
On completion of shakedown, Sample, initially assigned to Destroyer Squadron 29 (DesRon 29) at Long Beach, was ordered to Pearl Harbor and duty in DesDiv 252, DesRon 25. She arrived at her homeport for the first time on 18 October 1968, but was damaged by O'Bannon the following day. Repairs to her sonar dome forced her return to the Puget Sound area; and, on 21 January 1969, she departed Bangor to return to Hawaii.
During the remainder of the winter and into the spring, Sample remained in Hawaiian waters. In mid-April, she sailed west on her first deployment to the western Pacific and duty with the 7th Fleet. Toward the end of the month, she arrived at Yokosuka, thence continued on to Okinawa and the Philippines. In early May, she arrived in Subic Bay, whence she proceeded to Tonkin Gulf for patrol and escort duty with the carriers supporting operations in South Vietnam. In June, she departed Subic for Taiwan; and, during July, she operated with the Taiwan Strait Patrol. At the end of the month, she returned to Japan; but, in early August, she was back in the South China Sea. At mid-month, she resumed Taiwan Strait patrol duties and, on the 22d, again steamed for Japan.
In mid-September, Sample departed Yokosuka and sailed south again; operated briefly on patrol off Taiwan; then continued on to the Philippines. At the end of the month, she conducted special operations in the northeastern South China Sea; and, after a call at Hong Kong, headed back to Taiwan and Japan. On 18 October, she departed the latter for Pearl Harbor and a return to duty with the 1st Fleet.
Sample remained in the eastern Pacific into the summer of 1970. On 14 July, she departed Hawaii for her second WestPac deployment. Eight days later, she joined the 7th Fleet; and, on the 28th, she arrived in Subic Bay. On 1 August, she got underway for duty as escort for Oriskany (CVA-34) on Yankee Station. She operated with TG 77.5 in Tonkin Gulf until 25 August, then steamed for Taiwan, arriving at Kaohsiung on the 27th. By 5 September, she was back at Subic; and on the 15th, she resumed duty with TG 77.5. On the 29th, she returned to Subic; underwent boiler repairs; and sailed for Okinawa on 3 October. Arriving on the 6th, she continued on to Japan; where, from 19 to 27 October, she participated in joint United States-Japan exercises in the Sea of Japan. A call at Hong Kong followed her departure from Japan; and, on 13 November, she arrived at Keelung, Taiwan. Two days later, she continued on to Sasebo, whence she conducted exercises in the Sea of Japan, then steamed for Yokosuka. On 6 December, she departed the latter port and headed for home.
Sample returned to Pearl Harbor on 12 December. A post-deployment period of leave and liberty took her into the new year, 1971. Sample spent the entire year in Hawaii, either in port at Pearl Harbor or cruising in the local operating area. During the latter part of January, she began a period of availability, including a drydock period, which lasted until June. From June to December, she operated in Hawaiian waters; first, undergoing trials; then, refresher training; and, finally, participating in ASW exercises. The end of 1971 and the beginning of 1972 brought preparations for overseas movement. On 27 January 1972, Sample got underway for an extended deployment to the western Pacific. During the major portion of 1972, she alternated between SAR, PIRAZ, and naval gunfire support duties off the coast of Vietnam. She departed Vietnamese waters on 10 August and re-entered Pearl Harbor on the 25th.
She remained in port for the remainder of the year, engaged in post-deployment stand down and in restricted availability, the only exception being her participation in COMTUEX 4-72 between 4 and 8 December. Sample remained in Hawaii until 14 May 1973, when she redeployed to the western Pacific. After another seven months plying the waters of the Far East, she re-entered Pearl Harbor on 8 December. As of May 1974, Sample is still in port at Pearl Harbor.
Sample has received five campaign stars for service off Vietnam.
