The atypical transient doctor

By Sam T Ellis

Subjects: doctor, WWII, World War II, Great Depression, Washington University

Description: Dr. Sam Ellis has written an autobiography that includes his experiences as a young man during the Great Depression, his struggles to find work to put himself through medical school during those economic times, and the lessons he learned as the father of thirteen children. As a tank batallion member of General Patton's 6th Armored Division, Dr. Ellis writes about being a physician on the front lines in Germany and France during WWII, and events that earned him two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star. Dr. Ellis always had an interesting or entertaining story to tell, and many people throughout his adult life encouraged him to write a book. He ultimately did write the story of his remarkable life, with the hope that his children could know him in a way that he never knew his own father. As a renown physician and a man of great generosity, Dr. Ellis was probably known best for loving his children more than words can describe. He inscribed a copy of his book for each one of his children and his many friends, but sadly, just a very few weeks after his autobiography was published, Dr. Sam was tragically killed in an automobile accident.