Samuel Spencer

Early life Samuel Spencer was born in Washington, D.C., in 1910 and was named after his grandfather, railroad executive Samuel Spencer, "the Father of the Southern Railway System". He was the son of Henry Benning Spencer and Katherine Spencer. His father was also a prominent railroader who was President of Fruit Growers Express, a refrigerated rail concern.

In 1937, he returned to Washington to practice law there. In 1940, during the build-up to World War II, joined the Navy Reserve as an Ensign and was deployed to Panama in early 1941.

By 1944, Spencer was a Lieutenant Commander in command of the destroyer escort Oberrender. He participated in the battles of Leyte, Lingayen and Okinawa. On May 9, 1945, off the coast of Okinawa, the Oberender was hit by a kamikaze plane, killing 10 sailors and injuring 30 and the ship was badly damaged. He received a Bronze Star for getting the ship, which had to be decommissioned, back to port. He had three children, Henry B., Janet and Richard.