Samson L. Faison
| Samson Lane Faison | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
November 29, 1860 Faison, North Carolina |
| Died | October 17, 1940 (aged 79) Baltimore, Maryland |
| Allegiance |
 United States of America
|
| Service/ |
 United States Army
|
| Years of service | 1883-1922 |
| Rank |
 Brigadier General
|
| Commands held | 30th Infantry Division |
| Battles/wars |
Apache Wars Philippine–American War World War I |
| Awards | Distinguished Service Medal |
| Relations | LCDR S. Lane Faison (son) |
Samson Lane Faison (November 29, 1860 – October 17, 1940) was a brigadier general in the United States Army who commanded the 30th Infantry Division at various times during World War I. He received the Distinguished Service Medal for his significant role in the breaking of the German’s Hindenburg Line.
Samson L. Faison was born in Faison, North Carolina (Duplin County) to Elias James Faison and Elizabeth Maria Lane. He had four brothers and two sisters. A North Carolina state historical marker stands today in the town bearing his name, birthplace, and accomplishments. Faison married Eleanor Sowers in 1906 and had two children, S. Lane Faison Jr. and Eleanor. His son Lane had a distinguished career as an art historian, member of the OSS’s Art Looting Investigation Unit in World War II, and long-time faculty member at Williams College.
Faison graduated from West Point in 1883 and served in the Arizona Territory with the 1st Infantry from 1883-1886 during the final years of the Apache Wars. In 1885, Lt. Faison was selected by General George Crook to lead Apache Scout Companies into Mexico to help track down the Apache war leader, Geronimo. Faison was in the field for 11 months during 1885–1886 and was one of the few officers present at the council between Crook and Geronimo in March 1886, famously documented by photographer C. S. Fly. General Crook later recognized Faison and six other officers "for bearing uncomplainingly the almost incredible fatigues and privations as well as the dangers incident to their operations" while they "commanded expeditions or Indian Scouts in Mexico." In 1898 Faison wrote a memoir of his experience in the 1885-1886 Geronimo Campaign, which was published posthumously in 2012 in the Journal of the Southwest.
From 1896-1899, Lt. Faison was senior instructor of infantry tactics at the United States Military Academy. In 1899, Captain Faison left West Point to participate in the Philippine-American War where he served in several combat operations against the Philippine insurrection with the 13th Infantry. He also served as adjutant general and later as judge advocate of military commissions and as judge of the provost court in the Philippines until 1902. That fall he returned to the US and assumed command of Fort Mason in San Francisco.
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