Sponsored by:

Navy Federal Credit Union
Samuel
Lawrence
Hoard
1927-04-16

–

2007-11-30

Born:

St. Louis

, 

Missouri

Home:

St. Louis

, 

Missouri

Buried: 

Arlington

, 

Virginia

Cemetery:

Arlington National Cemetery

Samuel Hoard graduated from Concordia Collee, Fort Wayne, Indiana, before entering Concordia Seminary in his home town of St. Louis, Missouri. He was only the second African American to be admitted to the Seminary, and graduated in 1957. Ordained a Lutheran minister, he served in New York, Missouri, and Florida before being commissioned as a U.S. Army chaplain. He served for 27 years of active, Reserve, and Florida Army National Guard duty, and retired as a colonel. He served in Vietnam, as well as in Germany, and other CONUS posts. After retiring from pastoring in 1992, he began teaching adult classes at the Orange County Jail in Florida, to help inmates obtain their G.E.D.s. In 2004 his autobiography was published under the title “The Truth Will Set You Free.”

Awards Received

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Captain (Chaplain’s Corps)

    Batallion:

    1st Battalion (Airborne)

    Regiment:

    8th Cavalry Regiment

    Division:

    1st Cavalry Division

    Action Date:

    December 8, 1967
    Headquarters, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile), General Orders No. 3268 (May 14. 1968)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain (Chaplain’s Corps) Samuel Lawrence Hoard (ASN: 0-5004890), United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam. Chaplain Hoard distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous action on 8 December 1967, while serving as Battalion Chaplain with the 1st Battalion (Airborne), 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, during a combat mission near Dai Dong, Republic of Vietnam. When an infantry unit assaulted into known enemy terrain, Chaplain Hoard, disregarding his own safety, volunteered to accompany the unit. Repeatedly exposing himself to the enemy fire, he moved to the sides of several wounded soldiers to administer first aid as well as spiritual aid. Chaplain Hoard’s extraordinary heroism in close combat against an enemy force is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 1st Cavalry Division, and the United States Army.