Discover the remarkable life of Major General Father Francis Sampson, the Cherokee-born “Paratrooper Padre” whose experiences during World War II helped inspire the film Saving Private Ryan. This presentation by Jeff Fuhrman traces Sampson’s journey from his beginnings as a barber’s son in small-town Iowa and Minnesota to his service as an Army chaplain during D-Day, his time in a German prison camp, and ultimately his appointment as the Army’s Chief of Chaplains.

Jeff Fuhrman is a Cherokee native and new Humanities Iowa Speaker who returned to his hometown after a career in international tax advisory work. Jeff serves on the Sanford Museum & Planetarium’s Association Board and volunteers with the Cherokee Historic Preservation Commission’s Archives Group, bringing a personal connection to the community and its history.