Francis Leon Sampson (29 February 1912 – 28 January 1996) was an American Catholic priest and military officer who served as the 12th Chief of Chaplains of the United States Army from 1967 to 1971.

A World War II paratrooper chaplain who participated in the D-Day landings and the Battle of the Bulge, Sampson was captured during both engagements and spent time in prisoner-of-war camps.

A decorated war hero, he received the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and Distinguished Service Cross and was nominated for the Medal of Honor.

[2] He was ordained to the Roman Catholic priesthood for the Diocese of Des Moines, Iowa, on 1 June 1941.

[1] Following his ordination, Father Sampson served briefly as a parish priest in Neola, Iowa, and also taught at Dowling Catholic High School in Des Moines.

[1] He returned to the medic station at Basse-Addeville (Saint-Côme-du-Mont) and helped treat both German and American wounded soldiers.

[3] General Dwight D. Eisenhower recommended Sampson for the Medal of Honor for his courage on D-Day.

[10]: 28 In October 1945, Sampson returned to the United States and briefly served again at Dowling Catholic High School in Des Moines.

After that deployment, he served as an instructor at the U.S. Army Chaplain School at Fort Slocum, New York, until 1954.

[8] In 1966, Sampson was appointed as the Deputy Chief of Chaplains of the United States Army and promoted to the rank of brigadier general.

[12]: 3  Prior to his retirement, he approved a five-year plan for the chaplaincy, focusing on ministry, training, and administration.

[10]: 128 After his retirement, Sampson was installed as pastor of Saint Mary's Catholic Church, Shenandoah, Iowa, on 1 September 1971.

From 1983 to 1987, Sampson was an assistant to Theodore Hesburgh as Director of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps at the University of Notre Dame.

After learning this, Sampson insisted to Fritz that arrangements be made for his return to the United States, and filed the paperwork to do so.