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Fallen but not forgotten: Sgt. Princess Samuels

Posted: Friday, August 31, 2007 4:22 PM by Daily Nightly Contributor
Filed Under:

by John Rutherford, producer, Washington D.C.

Army Sgt. Princess Samuels' burial today at Arlington National Cemetery was much like her life, bathed in pink.

Her graveside floral arrangement contained lots of pink flowers. Many of the mourners wore pink in her honor. Her mother, Mrs. Anika Lawal, had on a large pink hat.

"She absolutely adored pink," her mother told WRC-TV.

All of Samuels' clothes were pink. So was her car.

"It was blue when she got it, but it didn't stay blue long," her mother told the Baltimore Sun. Samuels had her car custom-painted purplish-pink.

She even dyed her white poodle Skylar's ears and tail pink.

"She just loved life," her mother told WRC.

Samuels, nicknamed "Noodle" because of her 5-foot-2, 100-pound frame, joined the Army to see the world and ended up in Iraq as an imagery specialist in military intelligence.

"She's always been very smart, very intelligent," her aunt told the Sun.

But she was also terrified in Iraq and couldn't wait to get out, according to her mother.

"She was just like the other soldiers," her mother told the Washington Post. "Many of them don't believe in this mission. She didn't."

On Aug. 15, Samuels and Spc. Zandra T. Walker, 28, of Greenville, S.C., were killed in a mortar attack on their base in Taji, about 20 miles north of Baghdad.

"I want to know why I'm planning a funeral," her embittered mother told the Post last week, "while George Bush is planning a wedding."

Samuels was the 363rd casualty of the Iraq war to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Washington Producer John Rutherford is a decorated Vietnam veteran. He posts a weekly blog on burials of service members at Arlington National Cemetery.

 

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Comments

She dyed her poodle's ears pink.  You wrote that she died her poodle's ears pink.  Who is proofing this stuff? Janet Shamlian said in a preceeding article that a couple "councils" others.  In my town, the city council does not counsel citizens when the citizens have problems.

Pamela Weaver (Sent Sunday, September 02, 2007 1:00 AM)

I am a veteran, also a woman.  I respect the service of SGT Samuels. My condolences to the Samuels Family.  I must say it just floors me when I hear disparaging remarks about the war and the need to Bring The Soldiers Home.  Please, bear in mind these soldiers are where they volunteered to be.  Why?  Love of country is part of the reason for most because who but a fool would volunteer their life for something they hated.  Young people are especially driven by the outstanding opportunities afforded by honorable military service. They jump at the chance to make their dreams come true while (serving)honestly earning their way.  Standing on their own.  Yes, there are risks but the decision of the soldier must be respected above all else when the service is voluntary.  The right of choice is God-given.  

Military personnel voluntarily take an oath of honor which is why it is uncommon to hear them military personnel about Home.  It is not my place to say Bring SGT Samuels Home.  SGT Samuels made a decision (choice); I have no right, sitting in the comfort of my beautiful Virginia home, to question or second quess her God-given right to choose.  Who the hell do I think I am, families nonwithstanding.      

JeneseE'von, Roanoke, VA (Sent Sunday, September 02, 2007 9:39 PM)

I agree with the comment by the late soldier's mother. Why are so many families planning funeral services for their love ones, and the Bush family is planning a White-House wedding? I really wish that all those fine born again christians who re-elected George W. were required to service one enlistment to show their love of country. Iraq will in the end, teach us a better lesson than Vietam.

Ronald McKay, Camp Arifjan, Kuwait (Sent Wednesday, September 05, 2007 7:07 PM)

Though i think its a great choice to join the armed forces to see the world, the only people i think should be sent to die are the ones who want too, half the time kids join because these so called Recruiters, in their high schools and colleges who promise money for college also promise a better life, a better way to live out your dreams but these kids didnt volunteer for a death bed, they wanted to see the world, save a few lives, help the homeless, thats what our armed forces should be used for to the fullest, not as a human bomb, as an army brat, with my father in washington i have every right to say this when i say, the army is full of it, and so is the president, i almost had my father get sent to iraq for a year, thank god he didnt he ended up in washington but i lost my father for a year, on the presidents choice to send human bombs to fight his war, his war, not ours.

anela, ny (Sent Thursday, September 06, 2007 12:05 AM)

Todays soldier has a choice. You do not have to join. You volunteer. The old soldiers joined are were drafted. My Heart is saddened to hear of any deaths in any military conflicts. All of our losses in military conflicts payed a price for our freedom. When we stop fighting terroist abroad we will be sorry for having to fight them in our major cities across the U.S.A. Don't blame Bush, blame the past leaders who were afraid to get the terroist years ago when Oliver North informed the U.S. that Bin Ladin was a mad man aiming to kill the infidels long ago. God Bless Princess Samuels, God Bless all that have paid the ultimate price in allowing us to enjoy our freedom at home while we know these terroist will not quit until they destroy all of us.

Craig Purpera, Lafayette, La. (Sent Thursday, September 06, 2007 12:39 AM)

There is a draft.  It's an economic draft.  Does anyone really beleive that so many young people would join the military if they came from families with the money, the time and the resources to ensure that their childeren were prepared for the future, if we had universal secondary education?  I don't beleive that EVERYONE who joins up does so because they are struggling but this has been my personal experience.  

k. gonzales (Sent Thursday, September 06, 2007 9:57 PM)

May God bless the Samuels family. My heart aches for their loss. Let us never forget that sacrifice on behalf of a nation that needs protection now more than ever. This is not the time to question but to reflect and appreciate her service. I am truely grateful for all the efforts of our young men and women serving our country every day in Iraq and many other hot spots in the world, with dignity and honor. These are brave, bright countrymen that make me proud to be an American, they are fighting to protect each other as well as a grateful nation.

John M, Richmond Virginia (Sent Saturday, September 08, 2007 4:53 PM)

This is all true. However, I can't be more overwhelmed with saddness myself for all these other families losses. These men and women go over there and fight for what they believe in leaving their families behind. They are fighting for our freedom and safety while the rest of our country is killing each other over stupidity. I morn for the children who lose their parent or parents in this war! I also morn for the loss of our children in this war. Somewhere, sometime and somehow this has to stop. Let's all pray it does before it's too late!!! God speed and semper-fi

P. McDaniel, Mobile,AL (Sent Tuesday, January 08, 2008 5:24 PM)

This is in response to K Gonzales. I just found this site.  You are assuming that Princess did not have the opportunity to attend college, or her family did not have the means that would allow her to attend college.  Just so you know, Princess was afforded the same opportunities that the average suburban teenager is afforded; she worked, attended college prep classes while attending high school and scored very high on her SAT and the ASVAB, she was accepted into two major universities, the Air Force and the Army. Please do not assume that because she made the decision to join the Army that she was somehow less fortunate or not prepared for her future.  Princess grew up very fortunate and more blessed than most.  She was raised by three strong independent women that loved her very much.  Princess’ mother, grand mother and I ensured she had all the necessary tools to make her own decisions for her future.  

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but please do not speak on things you do not know or understand.  Joining the Army was a choice she made as a young, intelligent independent woman.  Another thing you need to know is that she was a Sgt before she turned 22 years old, she was accepted into Officers school and had experienced more than the average 30 year old in her short life.  Also, understand that your job or career in the military is based on your ASVAB score the higher your score the better career choices you have (the recruit can select their career path) as opposed to the recruiter selecting the job for the recruit.

Auntie Kathy

Silver Spring, MD (Sent Monday, October 20, 2008 12:09 PM)

SOLDIER: DIDN'T KNOW YOU. SAW YOUR HEADSTONE ON TV TODAY 5.25.09. I WON'T FORGET YOU!

OTIS BROOKS (Sent Monday, May 25, 2009 7:29 PM)



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