Military Service and Medals: Laurie Sams served with the SAS in Vietnam, earning multiple medals including the Active Service Medal Vietnam, Vietnam Medal, Defense Forces Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, and the Infantry Combat Badge.
Skydiving Achievements: Sams won the Australian National Parachuting Accuracy Championship in 1981 with a record score of eighteen DCs and earned multiple international accuracy medals. He was awarded the Australia Day Sporting Medal in 1986 and 1987, and the Australian Sports Medal in 2001 for his contributions to sport parachuting.
Bravery and Recognition: After a severe parachuting accident in 1995 that led to the amputation of his left leg, Sams received the Star of Courage for saving his student’s life. He was inducted into the Golden Knights’ Hall of Fame as an Honorary Golden Knight in 2009.
Date of First Jump: 1968
Born: October 3, 1949
