In Memoriam

years old.

Born in 1942, Sam grew up in Roland Park, a Baltimore neighborhood that lived large in his memory for the rest of his life. He held fond memories of lively family parties at their home on University Parkway, where joy, music, and connection filled the house. He attended Loyola High School, where he excelled at lacrosse, a sport that would stay with him for life.

He went on to the University of Pennsylvania, graduating in 1964 with a degree in Political Science. At Penn, he played on the varsity lacrosse team, lived in the Little Quad and DEKE house, and was active in the Newman Club, Interfraternity Council, Phi Kappa Beta, Friars, and Dormitory Council. He also played rugby and proudly wore the evidence on his face for the rest of his life after a college match left his nose permanently altered.

After earning his law degree from the University of Maryland and passing the bar, Sam was drafted into the U.S. Army and sent to advanced infantry training at Tigerland, Fort Polk, Louisiana – basically, a straight shot to the jungles of Vietnam. But before he could deploy, someone in the system noticed he was a lawyer. He was quickly pulled out of the mud and reassigned to the local JAG office, where, after a month or two, they decided they liked him enough to promote him from Private (E-2) to JAG Captain (O-3). He stayed at Fort Polk for about a year before receiving orders for Vietnam. Just before shipping out, the Army sent him to JAG School, followed by a short stint at the first-ever Army Military Judge School, newly created after Congress authorized JAG officers to sit as judges.

In Vietnam, he served as Command Judge Advocate for the Saigon Headquarters Area Command, managing courts-martial from serious felonies to drug offenses. These experiences are chronicled in his memoir, Boots and the Law.

After returning stateside, Sam held legal roles at Fort Meade and across the Department of Defense, culminating in service as Chief Legislative Counsel for the Army and later Director of Legislative Reference for the Office of the Secretary of Defense General Counsel. He helped shape national legislative policy and worked closely with Congress to advance defense priorities.

He remained in uniform as a U.S. Army Reserve officer, attaining the rank of full colonel. During the Persian Gulf War, he volunteered for active duty and served as Staff Judge Advocate (SJA) for CENTCOM Rear Headquarters under General Norman Schwarzkopf. His final assignment was as SJA for Headquarters, U.S. Army Europe. For his decades of distinguished service—including during his tenure at the Pentagon—he was awarded the Legion of Merit, an honor made all the more exceptional because it recognized his contributions as a civilian federal attorney, not just his military record.

In retirement, Sam continued to serve. He ran a military academy, returned to South Carolina to be closer to family, and became deeply involved in veterans’ advocacy. He was elected President of the South Carolina State Council of the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA), and then Chair, earning him a seat on the VVA’s National Board. He was also appointed Army Reserve Ambassador for South Carolina, a senior honorary role with the protocol of a major general. He remained active in the legal world, arguing pro bono cases, including before the South Carolina Supreme Court.

But the roles Sam cherished most were husband, father, and coach. He married Mary Brick 47 years ago, and together they raised four children – Morgan, Alex, Nathan, and Berin – in Mount Vernon, Virginia, during Sam’s years at the Pentagon. He was there on September 11, 2001, in offices just adjacent to the quadrant where the plane struck.

He coached countless youth games, starting in t-ball and continuing through basketball and lacrosse, leading his children’s teams to area championships and earning the loyalty of players and families alike. He followed sports passionately, especially the Baltimore Orioles, the Washington Redskins, college athletics, and most of all, lacrosse, which remained his favorite to watch. In the summers he could be found at the beach in an army fatigue jacket, digging trenches in the sand for the kids.

In recent years, Sam was joyfully united with his daughter Jennifer Jones, a wonderful surprise from his time in Basic Training. She and her family became a beloved part of the Brick family.

Sam is survived by his wife, Mary Brick; his sister, Carole Potar; his five children: Morgan Brick (Tracy), Alex Brick (Renee), Nathan Brick, Berin Watson (Ronnie), and Jennifer Jones (Matthew); and his seventeen grandchildren: Peyton, Morgan Ashton, and Bella Brick; Serena, Cecilia, Samuel, Eve, and Brendan Brick; Virgil and Birdie Brick; Bailey, Ever, Logan, Luke and Brynn Watson; and Jack Jones and Ashton Bellard.

The family will receive friends from 5 until 7 o’clock, Friday, July 25th, at Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Chapel, 7600 Trenholm Road Ext., Columbia.

The funeral service for Colonel Brick will be held at 10 o’clock, Saturday, July 26th, at St. Michael and All Angels’ Episcopal Church, 6408 Bridgewood Rd, Columbia, SC 29206, with The Reverend Charles J. Smith officiating. A reception will follow the funeral service at the family residence. Burial with military honors will be held at Arlington National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the VVA South Carolina State Council at https://vvasc.org/donations-1 or a charity of your choice.