The price of freedom: Remembering Pvt. Sam Morrelli

A cemetery marker for Pvt. Samuel “Sam” Morrelli at the Epinal American Cemetery in France. (Photo courtesy of Dwight “Andy” Anderson)

During World War II, countless men and women from Utah answered the call, leaving behind their families, their futures, and their dreams to defend the freedoms we cherish today. Thousands of miles away from home, they faced unimaginable challenges and endured horrific conditions. They did not seek recognition or reward, yet history will forever remember them as heroes. Among the brave souls who left Utah but never returned was Pvt. Samuel “Sam” C. Morrelli. 

I was born in Paris, and about 10 years ago, I carried out extensive research on American heroes buried at the Epinal American Cemetery in France. That’s when I first learned about Pvt. Morrelli. Using a detailed obituary published by the Standard-Examiner in Ogden, Utah, in December 1944 and a biography of his father, I compiled his story to share.

Sam was born on March 14, 1923, in Ogden, Utah, to Amico Giusto “Mike” Morrelli and Pauline Lena “Polly” Lombardi. He grew up in a home filled with love and laughter, sharing unforgettable moments with his siblings. Even from a young age, Sam stood out for his kindness and determination. At just 12 years old, he worked with his father, helping build their family’s brick home from the ground up. Mornings, nights, and weekends were spent hammering, mixing, and laying bricks. He was rewarded with a new bicycle — a gift that made him so happy. 

Sam attended St. Joseph Catholic School and graduated from Ogden High School in 1939. Known for his sharp mind, work ethic and generosity, he was admired by his teachers and loved by his classmates. At Weber College, he continued to grow into a young man of character, integrity and promise. 

When the world fell into chaos and freedom stood in peril, Sam felt a call that couldn’t be ignored. Driven by a deep sense of duty and love for his country, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve Corps on Nov. 27, 1942. Initially part of the Air Corps Engineer Reserve, he studied for nine months at the University of South Dakota before transitioning to the infantry. He was later assigned to Company C, 1st Battalion, 324th Infantry Regiment, 44th Infantry Division. In September 1944, Sam was deployed to Europe — stepping into the heart of one of history’s most brutal wars.

He found himself in the Vosges Mountains of France — a place of unimaginable hardship with freezing temperatures, unforgiving terrain, and relentless enemy fire. Yet Sam and his brothers-in-arms pressed forward, village by village — fighting not for glory, but to liberate people they had never met. Their courage and determination were nothing short of heroic.

In mid-November, his unit continued advancing through the Vosges, battling fiercely to break through German lines. Tragically, near the village of Avricourt, Sam was struck by enemy fire. His comrades rushed to his aid and quickly realized the severity of his injuries. Medics and nurses fought desperately to save him, but on Nov. 18, 1944, Sam died from his wounds. He was just 21 years old — with so much life ahead, and so much to give.

Back in Utah, the news of his death sent shockwaves through the entire community. Sam was a son, a brother, a friend — and now a fallen hero. For his parents, Mike and Polly, the pain was unbearable, and the silence too loud to ignore. They carried a quiet, unspoken grief for the rest of their lives. Mike passed away on Jan. 6, 1979, and Polly on Nov. 30, 1985 — both holding their beloved son close in their hearts.

Today, Sam rests in the Epinal American Cemetery in Dinozé, France — alongside 5,255 fellow Americans who laid down their lives in the battle for freedom. Endless rows of white marble crosses and Stars of David stretch out in silence — a heartbreaking reminder of what it took to defeat the forces of tyranny. Each one marks not just a grave, but a name, a voice, a story — a life full of promise, cut short by an unforgiving war.

It is our solemn responsibility to carry Sam’s memory forward and ensure his name never fades into the archives of history. Let us speak his name with reverence and pride. Let us remember the boy who built a house with his father, who loved his family, and who sacrificed everything for a cause greater than himself. Let us ensure that Pvt. Sam Morrelli is never forgotten — and that the freedom he gave his life for is never taken for granted.