Joseph Talmadge Sampson – RM2,United States Navy Central Intelligence Agency

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Joseph Talmadge Sampson, 74, who worked for the CIA for 25 years before retiring in 1975 as a communications specialist, died of cancer February 8, 2003, at his home in Burke, Virginia.

During his years with the agency, he served in the Far East and the Middle East. He had done support work for America's U-2 overflights of the Soviet Union, helped develop communications equipment for the SR-71 Blackbird reconnaissance aircraft and served as communications chief at the U.S. Embassy in Saigon when it was evacuated in 1975.

Mr. Sampson received the CIA Medal of Merit for his work in sending the final embassy messages and destroying communications equipment and files before his evacuation by helicopter from the embassy roof.

After retiring from the agency, he was a real estate broker. From the late 1970s through the 1980s, he owned and managed the old NOVA Realty and Mortgage Co. in Annandale. From 1988 to 1993, he was owner and president of the TCI communications consulting firm.

He was a member of the CIA Retirement Association and the Neighbors Lunch Bunch of Vienna.

Mr. Sampson, who came to the Washington area in 1950, was a Georgia native and a business administration graduate of the University of Maryland.

His wife of 48 years, Faye, died in 1997.

Survivors include three sons, Larry, of Raleigh, N.C., and Joe and Tim, both of Vienna; a sister; and seven grandchildren.

SAMPSON, JOSEPH T.

On Saturday, February 8, 2003, at his residence in Burke, VA. Husband of the late Faye H. Sampson. Father of Joseph R., Larry B. and Timothy B. Sampson; brother of Ruth Smith. Also survived by seven grandchildren. A memorial service will be held on Friday, February 14 at 10:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church, 8601 Wolf Trap Rd., Vienna, VA. Inurnment at the Arlington National Cemetery Columbarium at a later date. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Hospice of Northern Virginia.

SAMPSON, JOSEPH T

  • RM2   US NAVY
  • VETERAN SERVICE DATES: 06/26/1946 – 04/01/1948
  • DATE OF BIRTH: 08/06/1928
  • DATE OF DEATH: 02/08/2003
  • DATE OF INTERMENT: 03/14/2003
  • BURIED AT: SECTION 4-LL  ROW 8  SITE 5
    ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

SAMPSON, FAYE H

  • DATE OF BIRTH: 12/13/1929
  • DATE OF DEATH: 09/30/1997
  • DATE OF INTERMENT: 10/28/1997
  • BURIED AT: SECTION 4-LL  ROW 8  SITE 5
    ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
    WIFE OF SAMPSON, JOSEPH T RM2   US NAVY

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