Samuel D. Turtletaub was born on April 6, 1896 in Poland. He served in Machine Gun Company, 371st Infantry Regiment, 93rd Division (Colored) as a First Lieutenant during World War I. He died on September 28, 1918 and is now buried in the Brith Sholom Congregation Cemetery 1856, Charleston, Charleston County, South Carolina, USA. The Jewish Citizens of Charleston, SC erected a memorial with his Distinguished Service Cross citation inscribed as his headstone.

Inscribed on his headstone:
MEMORANDUM TO THE REGIMENTAL COMMANDER
FOR ACTS OF EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM AND COURAGE DISPLAYED
WHILE THIS BATTALION WAS IN ACTION, BETWEEN HILL 188
AND ALIN CREEK IN THE CHAMPAGNE SECTOR, FRANCE DURING
THE PERIOD SEPTEMBER 28TH, TO OCTOBER 6TH, 1918, INCLUSIVE,
I RECOMMEND THAT THE FOLLOWING OFFICERS BE AWARDED THE
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS.

FIRST LIEUT. SAM D. TURTLETAUB, MACHINE GUN
COMPANY, (DECEASED) FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM DISPLAYED
IN THE FACE OF DEADLY ARTILLERY AND MACHINE GUN FIRE
AT HILL 188 SEPTEMBER 28TH, 1918 AFTER REPEATED EFFORTS
TO PLACE A MACHINE GUN IN POSITION TO RETURN THE ENEMY'S
FIRE HAD BEEN MADE AND ALL HAD FAILED, LIEUT. TURTLETAUB
ASKED PERMISSION TO PLACE ANOTHER GUN IN POSITION, AND,
WHILE DOING SO, FELL MORTALLY WOUNDED, LIEUT. TURTLETAUB
HAD FREQUENTLY SHOWN GREAT COURAGE AND DARING, AND
WAS AN INSPIRATION TO THE MEMBERS OF HIS PLATOON.

"J. B. pATE, MAJOR 371ST INFANTRY, COMMANDING BATTALION"