F . A . Sampson Group Capt . Franklin Augustas Sampson ( F . A . “ Sammy ” Sampson ) O . C . , O . B . E . , Legionnaire , Legion of Merit ( United States ) , Croix de Guerre with Silver Star ( France ) , Order of the British Empire , b . 1906 in Royal Flat , Jamaica 1 ; d . 1992 in Brockville , Canada , was a Canadian war hero and accomplished military attaché . During World War II , Sampson was one of only three Canadian military personnel stationed at Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force ( SHAEF ) under General Dwight D . Eisenhower , the Supreme Allied Commander . He was selected due to his expertise regarding the repatriation of military prisoners of war . Notable later stations included Argentina and Paris following World War II . Sampson was head of air force personnel in London leading up to the Battle of Britain 1939 - 1940 . In February 1939 , following the Munich Agreement and during preparations to defend England against an imminent German air campaign , which commenced later that year , Sampson was instrumental in quashing a general strike by 1 , 500 Canadian enlisted personnel stationed at RCAF Odiham Air Base , Down Ampney , Gloucestershire , England . With threat of war on the horizon , the enlisted personnel were seeking immediate repatriation to Canada . The base was a critical air logistics hub for British defensive operations . Acting on direct orders from Canadian Prime Minister Mackenzie King to enforce Canada ’ s military commitments in defense of England in the lead up to World War II , Sampson confronted strike leaders on the steps of Canada House in London , February 8 , 1939 declaring " It will be considered mutiny if you men are out after February 11 , 1939 " . During the war , Sampson was assigned to RAF No . 27 to train British and Commonwealth fighter pilots , and later assigned to station command at Allerton Park ( Allerton Castle ) upon the establishment of No . 6 Group RCAF ( No . 6 Group RCAF ) . At the war ' s end the RCAF had 11 bomber stations in England ; seven of these were operational stations , controlled by No . 6 Group responsible for over 40 , 000 sorties , making it one of the most productive bomber units of the entire war . An expert on prisoners of war , Sampson was one of only three Canadian nationals assigned to Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force ( SHAEF ) upon preparations for , with direct responsibility for repatriating first military , then later civilian POWs . During this period , Sampson lobbied General Eisenhower extensively , and ultimately successfully , to extend SHAEF command authority to include civilian repatriation , thereby making the liberation of concentration camps a military responsibility . Sampson was awarded the Legion of Merit by Dwight D . Eisenhower at Camp Griffis on December 12 , 1944 for his efforts . The medal is the highest military honor that can be awarded to a foreign national by the U . S . government . It is the only citation to be awarded as a neck order , other than the Congressional Medal of Honor . Many of the details regarding Sampson ’ s activities during and after World War II remain sealed under Canada ’ s Official Secrets Act and Security of Information Act . Sampson pursued his liberation related responsibilities for the rest of his military career as commanding military attaché in Argentina ( 1948 ) and Paris ( 1951 ) , until his retirement in 1955 . On January 29 , 1947 Sampson was presented with Order of the British Empire for outstanding service as Commanding Officer of the Base Station in No . 61 ( RCAF ) Base and , later , the Base Station at No . 64 ( RCAF ) Base , “ as largely responsible for the very enviable record shown by both of these stations under his command ” . On September 12 , 1947 , Sampson was awarded Croix de Guerre with Silver Star ( France ) for gallantry in action against an enemy .