Samuel Watts

Spc. Samuel T. Watts, age 20, of Wheaton, Illinois, died on May 19, 2012, in Bethesda, Maryland, of wounds sustained on April 25, 2012, in Zharay, Afghanistan, when he was attacked with an enemy improvised explosive device. 

Saint Jude and Saint Simon, pray for Sam

Samuel was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

He graduated from Wheaton North High School in 2010.  He enlisted in July of 2010, completed Airborne school at Fort Benning, Georgia, and joined the 1-508th PIR in November of 2010. This was his first deployment to Afghanistan.

His awards include the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Combat Infantryman’s Badge and Parachutist Badge.

High school officials stated that Sam talked about joining the Army ever since he was a freshman in high school, and that he wanted to help others, and often did that at the school.

Military officials stated that Sam was a man that you wanted on your team and that he was a fighter to the end.

Sam is survived by many loving friends and relatives.

Let us pray that Samuel Watts is in heaven. Let us pray that he is at peace and is with God. Amen.