Danny W. Sample, Jr., is the Immediate Past Commander of the Department of Alabama, Veterans of Foreign Wars. He is a Legacy Life member of Lance Corporal Thomas Rivers, Jr. Memorial Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 12185 in Alabaster, Alabama, where he was an All-American Commander for two consecutive years at the Post. He has served as junior vice Commander, senior vice Commander, and Chairman of the Budget and Finance committee for the Department of Alabama. He also serves as the Chairman of the National Veteran’s Day parade in Birmingham, Alabama. 

 

A native of Columbus, Mississippi, Danny enlisted in the Mississippi Army National Guard in 1985 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in Armor through the Mississippi State University ROTC Simultaneous Membership Program in May 1987. 

 

He has served most of his career in Armor units of the 155th Armored Brigade (round-out Brigade to the 1st Cavalry Division), Mississippi Army National Guard, with assignments from Platoon Leader, Executive Officer, Company Commander, and S3. He served on a short tour as the J5/7 Project Officer, US Army Pacific, Fort Shafter, Hawaii. Danny earned his VFW eligibility when he deployed to Baghdad, Iraq, for OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM II (2004-2005) as Deputy Commander, Rear Operations Center, 1st Cavalry Division.

 

After returning from Iraq, Commander Sample served as Deputy Director for Military Support, Mississippi National Guard, supporting Hurricane Katrina in Gulfport, Mississippi, until November 2005. Upon completing hurricane duty, he joined the Army Reserve in February 2006. He has served in various positions, from battalion commander to chief of staff in two Army Reserve divisions. He has worked with US Forces-Korea on various exercises to review the staff functions of the Combined Forces Command, which is the joint command of US Forces, South Korean Forces, and United Nations partner forces. His last assignment was also with the 100th Division (Leader Development), FT Knox, KY, as the Reserve Component Lead Field Evaluator for the US Army Command and General Staff College in Ft Leavenworth, KS. Danny retired in June 2021 after 36 years in uniform.   

 

Sample’s military education includes the Armor Officer Basic Course (1987), Armor Officer Advanced Course (1991), Combined Arms Services and Staff School (1996), Command and General Staff College (2002), US Army War College (2012), Advanced Joint Professional Military Education (2013), and the Joint Enabling Capabilities Command Joint Planners Course (2016). He graduated from Mississippi State University with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Management and a Master’s in Strategic Studies from USAWC.

    

His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (with four Oak Leave Clusters), Army Commendation Medal (with one Oak Leaf Cluster), Army Achievement Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal (with two campaign stars), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, and Combat Action Badge. Danny was awarded the Mississippi Magnolia Medal during HURRICANE KATRINA and is a member of the Order of Saint George for his service to the Armor Community.   

 

Commander Sample lives in Alabaster, Alabama, with his wife, Tammy. They have three sons: Davin (wife Emily), Kyle (wife Anna), and Landon (a senior cadet Captain at The Citadel). Danny and his wife Tammy own Siluria Brewing in Alabaster, AL.