Asbury United Methodist Church, Cinnaminson, NJ
Friday, March 29, 2024

Asbury Veteran: Sam Chamberlain (deceased 2013)

Navy veteran...

Sam Chamberlain was born in Bridgeboro, NJ in 1930. Sam attended Palmyra High School where he met his wife, Jean. They graduated together in 1949.

In 1950, during the Korean War, Sam received a draft notice from the Army. Instead, he enlisted in the Navy and was sent to the Great Lakes Naval Base in Illinois for Boot Camp.
 
Sam was a Fireman working in the engine room on the USS Columbus, a navy cruiser in Plymouth, England. He took care of the evaporators that changed sea water to fresh water for drinking and for the boilers which needed absolute fresh water (no brine). His ship traveled through the Panama Canal to the Philippine Islands and then on to Korea where they relieved another heavy cruiser.
 
In 1951 Sam came home from Korea to marry Jean. They were united in marriage by Rev. Hitchens at Asbury United Methodist Church before it was removed from its original site on Route 130. Sam and Jean have been married for 56 years. Jean, who lived in Cinnaminson, attended Asbury since she was a small child.
 
After a short leave, Sam returned to duty in the Mediterranean and Europe. Jean remained stateside in their Pennsauken home where they lived for 43 years. They have three sons - Barry, Steven and Sam. Barry, the oldest was born in 1953 while Sam was in Barcelona, Spain.
 
Sam did not see Barry until he was 13 weeks old.
 
Discharged in 1954 as a Second Class Petty Officer and a Second Class Machinist Mate, Sam continued working in construction until retirement in 1989. He and Jean presently live in Maple Shade.
 
This photo of Sam (...the one with the wavy head full of hair) was taken February 18, 1951 in Istanbul, Turkey.