Bernard A. Sampson

John Wiseman

Correspondant National (Bernie Sampson)

Bernie was born in Woodville, NY on March 29, 1947.  He graduated from Belleville High School in 1966 and joined the Marine Corps.  He was stationed in Viet Nam where he earned the Purple Heart, Vietnam Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal and Rifle Expert Medal. 

AMERICAN LEGION SERVICE

Bernie joined Don Rounds Post 586 American Legion in 1966 where he has served as Post Finance Officer for the past twenty years.  Other service and recognition includes:

County Commander              1992

• County Finance Officer         1992 – 2000
• District Vice Commander      2001
• Department Sgt @ Arms
• Boys State                          16 years

Counselor

Board of Directors

• Boys State Office Manager                           
• Department Bowling
• Numerous Post, County & State committees
• Legionnaire of the Year

Post 586                1992

Jefferson County     1998

            LA SOCIETE

Bernie is a Charter Member of Jefferson County Voiture 534, joining at it’s reorganization in 1990.  As a 40/8 member, Bernie has held all Locale, District and Grande offices as well as several Nationale offices.

LOCALE:

• Wrecked                                            1990
• Chef                                                  1992
• Comm. Intendant                                1996 – present
• Numerous Committees

DISTRICT:

• Cheminot                                           1992
• Held all elected offices

GRANDE:

• Grande Chef                                       2000
• Held all elected offices
• Chaired Nominating Committee
• Numerous committees
• Currently serves as Grande Correspondant

VOITURE NATIONALE:

• Chef de Chemin de Fer 2008
• Sous Chef de Chemin de Fer 2003
• Sous Director Membership
• Cheminot Nationale
• Carvelle Star Committeeman

Bernie is retired from the Marine Corps.  He lives in his hometown of Woodville, NY with his wife, Terry.  They have three grown children and four grandchildren.  Bernie has been an active member of the Veteran organizations and a lifetime supporter of the sporting groups in his community.  He has been active in Little League, Pop Warner, the Bowling Association, Men’s Softball andTavern Pool League.  He is a Paid up for Life member of the American Legion, the VFW, the DAV, and the Marine Corps League.  In his “spare time”, Bernie is an avid golfer.

Avocat National (national legal counsel)

John L. Wiseman is the Forty et Eight’s national legal officer.

Born in Kalamazoo, Michigan in 1930, Wiseman graduated from High School in Horseheads, NY.  He served in the United States Army from 1948-1952.  Wiseman worked for Westinghouse Corporation in New York, attended the State University of New York, and was thereafter employed by IBM, where Wiseman was in on the ground floor of computer development at IBM’s Test Laboratories at Endicott, New York.  Wiseman  later transferred to IBM’s Computer Plant in Boca Raton, Florida, as Product Safety Manger, retiring in 1987.

John Wiseman is married to the former Joyce Dean of Horseheads, NY.  They have three children; Dawn, Paula and John Jr.; and several grandchildren.

Wiseman is a member of American Legion Post 277 of Boca Raton, Florida, where he has served as Judge Advocate (legal officer), Service Officer and several years as Legion Post Commander. 

In 1999, Wiseman served as the Forty et Eight’s national commander, or “Chef de Chemin de Fer”.  Wiseman has also served as Conducteur National and served on several key national committees including; Finance, Time and Place, Voiture Activities, Youth Sports, Organizing and Membership.  In Florida, Wiseman served as the Forty et Eight state commander (Grand Chef de Gare) and as state adjutant (Grand Correspondant). 

Wiseman served as the commander (Chef de Gare) and as Avocat of Voiture Locale 1490.  He is currently a member of Florida’s Voiture Locale 954 where he serves as Avocat.