Col. James Samiljan (Ret.), born November 8, 1919, in Glendale, Queens, New York, passed away on October 6, 2013 at the VA Hospice Care Center in West Palm Beach.


Col. Samiljan was predeceased by his beloved wife, Muriel Wenz Samiljan, and eldest son, James Ralph Samiljan. He is survived by sons Arthur Gregory Samiljan (Shirley), Steven Thomas Samiljan (Allyson), and Robert Fred Samiljan, and daughter Jean Ardell Samiljan; grandsons Sean Samiljan (Sue), Jason Samiljan (Robin), Adam Samiljan and Chad Samiljan; granddaughters Rhonda Attaway and Sara Johnson; and eight great-grandchildren.


He was a graduate of Long Island University and University of Central Florida. He enlisted in 1942 and retired as a Colonel from the U.S. Army in 1971, after serving for 30 years. He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the South Pacific, and the Viet Nam War. He was stationed in Ft. Sill, Oklahoma: Stuttgart, Germany; Ft. Knox, Kentucky; Ft. Ord, California (Army Language School); Tehran, Iran; Governors Island, New York; Okinawa; Mitchell Field, New York; and Ft. Benning, Georgia.


Interment will be at the South Florida National Cemetery, Lake Worth, Florida, at 12:45 p.m. on October 11, 2013.