January 2022 – Paul Wesley Sampson
U.S. Navy 1976-1980

Born 1956 in Memphis, Tenn., Paul moved with his family to Charlotte, North Carolina, when he was six. After six years in Charlotte, his family returned to Memphis where Paul graduated from Wooddale High School in 1974.

In May 1976, Paul joined the Navy with a guaranteed “A” school for Hospital Corpsman (HM). Following bootcamp at Naval Training Center Orlando, Florida, he reported to HM “A” School in Great Lakes, Illinois, then on to the 23-week Pharmacy Technician “C” School in Portsmouth, Virginia (VA). From “C” School he transferred to the Norfolk Base Pharmacy at Naval Operating Base, Norfolk, VA. As a pharmacy tech at Sewell’s Point Branch Clinic, he continued his education with a civilian Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) II to become one of only two corpsmen at the clinic with this higher level of expertise. Paul earned the position of Team Leader for the “Broken Arrow” response group, a group of specially trained medical personnel whose job was to respond to nuclear accidents/incidents. His other training and certifications include intravenous therapy, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, childbirth, operation of the “jaws of life,” and obstacle course driving with an ambulance. In anticipation of a second attempt to extract hostages during the Iran Hostage Crisis, Paul was extended on active duty for almost six months to allow the clinic to maintain peak readiness and immediate deployment ability.

After receiving his honorable discharge in November 1980, Paul returned to Memphis, and took a short but much needed vacation before starting a job for an automotive engine rebuilder. With a high school friend requesting assistance and nothing really holding him in Memphis, he moved to Las Cruces, New Mexico, in 1982 to help manage pizza restaurants, spending most of his time in the Alamogordo/White Sands area. The following year he accepted a job with a hospitality group in Nashville, TN, before moving to San Diego, California, in 1984 where he worked his way from waiter to management at a fine dining restaurant. In 1986, the confirmed bachelor returned to Memphis to manage a Po Folks Restaurant. There he met a cashier named Valerie, daughter of H.T. and Martha Ray. Paul quickly realized he had met the love of his life; and, after a six-month engagement, they married in October of 1987. A year and a half later, their only child Jacob was born.

In 1992, Paul was promoted to area manager; so he and his young family moved to Phoenix, Arizona (AZ). Two short years later they relocated to Knoxville, TN, where they settled down to raise their family. Jacob grew up, graduated, joined the Air Force, and was stationed in Tucson, AZ, with his new bride Rachel. Time had come to be closer to family, so they sold their house and bought a new home in Tipton County. The following year, Jacob and Rachel presented them their only grandchild, Oliver Wesley Sampson.

Paul is now retired, and Valerie works from home. After 34 years together, they are looking forward to whatever life has around the next corner. Paul was nominated for Veteran of the Month by his father-in-law, H.T. Ray, the August 2017 Veteran of the Month.