Lost/Sam Austen

Sam Austen
Lost
Actor	Lindsey Ginter
First Appearance	2x09 - What Kate Did
Last Appearance	—
Series Billing	Series: Guest
Episode Count	2
Notable Episodes	2x09 - What Kate Did 2x14 - One of Them

Sam Austen was a Sergeant Major in the United States Army Rangers, and acted as a father to Kate Austen. He is played by Lindsey Ginter and has appeared in two episodes to date.

Basic Information

Sam Austen was a member of 1st Platoon, Company A, 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment — also known as the United States Army Rangers. At one time Sam was stationed in Fort Lewis, Washington State and may have been a member of 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment. He may have served in the Korean War at some point between 1950 and 1954 (this is conjecture based on his Korean Service Medal, but given his age and rank, the medal may be a prop error). Sam Austen was stationed in South Korea in approximately 1978 (when Kate was conceived), and was deployed to Saudi Arabia from February 12, 1991 to April 15, 1991 in support of Operation Desert Storm before becoming a recruiter for the U.S. Army. While serving in Operation Desert Storm, Sam met Sayid Jarrah when he required an Iraqi translator in his interrogation of an Iraqi commander regarding the whereabouts of a downed Apache pilot.

Sam was married to Kate's mother, Diane. He enjoyed hiking - being in the woods "was like his religion" - and would take Kate along with him for hours, teaching her how to track animals. He loved Kate very much, even though she wasn't his biological daughter. Diane had an affair with Wayne Janssen while Sam was stationed in Korea up until four months before Kate was born. Sam kept the truth hidden from Kate as he was worried she'd kill Wayne if she found out. When Kate was five years old, Diane separated from him and married Wayne. Sam wanted to keep custody of Kate and take her with him, but Diane wouldn't allow it.

Awards and Decorations

• Combat Infantryman Badge: Awarded only to Army infantry or special forces officers in the grade of colonel or below, or an Army enlisted soldier or warrant officer with an infantry or special forces Military Occupational Specialty, who subsequent to 6 December 1941 has satisfactorily performed duty while assigned or attached as a member of an infantry, ranger or special forces unit of brigade, regimental, or smaller size during any period such unit was engaged in active ground combat.

• First row:

1. Joint Service Commendation Medal: Awarded only to members of the armed forces of the United States who, after January 1, 1963, distinguished themselves by meritorious achievement or service.
2. Army Commendation Medal: Awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States other than General Officers who, while serving in any capacity with the Army after 6 December 1941, distinguished himself by heroism, meritorious achievement or meritorious service.
3. Army Achievement Medal: Awarded to any member of the armed forces of the United States who, while serving in any capacity with the Army in a non-combat area on or after 1 August 1981, distinguished himself by meritorious service or achievement of a lesser degree than required for award of the Army Commendation Medal.

• Second row:

1. Army Good Conduct Medal: Awarded for exemplary behavior, efficiency, and fidelity in active Federal Military service.
2. National Defense Service Medal: Awarded for honorable active service for any period between 27 June 1950 and 27 July 1954; between 1 January 1961 and 14 August 1974; between 2 August 1990 and 30 November 1995 and between 11 September 2001 and a closing date to be determined.
3. Korean Service Medal: Awarded for service between 27 June 1950 and 27 July 1954 within the territorial limits of Korea. (Note: This ribbon may be a prop error.)

• Third row:

1. Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal: Awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who after 1 July 1958 participate as members of U.S. military units in a U.S. military operation in which service members of any Military Department participate in significant numbers and encounter during such participation foreign armed opposition, or are otherwise place in such a position that hostile action by foreign armed forces was imminent even though it does not materialize.
2. Southwest Asia Service Medal: Awarded to those who have served in support of Operation Desert Shield or Desert Storm in the total land areas of Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.
3. Global War on Terrorism Medal (Expeditionary): Awarded to soldiers who deploy abroad for service in the Global War on Terrorism Operations on or after 11 September 2001 to a date to be determined.

• Fourth row:

1. Global War on Terrorism Medal (Service): Awarded to soldiers who have participated in or served in support of Global War on Terrorism Operations outside the designated areas of eligibility for the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, on or after 11 September 2001 to a date to be determined. All soldiers on active duty, including Reserve Component soldiers mobilized, or National Guard soldiers activated on or after 11 September 2001 to a date to be determined, having served 30 consecutive days or for 60 nonconsecutive days are authorized the medal.
2. Army Service Ribbon: Awarded to members of the Army, Army Reserve, and Army National Guard for successful completion of initial-entry training.
3. Army Overseas Service Ribbon: Awarded to all members of the Active Army, Army National Guard, and Army Reserve in an active Reserve status for successful completion of overseas tours if the tour is not recognized by the award of a service or campaign medal.

• Fifth row:

1. Multinational Force & Observers Medal: Awarded to personnel who have served with the Multinational Force & Observers at least ninety cumulative days after 3 August 1981. Effective 15 March 1985, personnel must serve 6 months (170 days minimum) to qualify.
2. Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia): Awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who must have served in support of Operation Desert Storm between 17 January 1991 and 28 February 1991 in the total land areas of Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.
3. Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait): Awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who must have served in support of Operation Desert Storm between 17 January 1991 and 28 February 1991 in the total land areas of Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.

Episode Appearances

1. 2x09 - What Kate Did
2. 2x14 - One of Them

Character History

• 2x09 - What Kate Did: Kate visits Sam after she's on the run.
• 2x14 - One of Them: Sam meets Sayid during Operation Desert Storm.

Quotes

• 2x09 - What Kate Did: "I didn't tell you because I knew you'd kill him. And your mother...loved him. You were five years old, I wanted to take you along with me. She wouldn't let me."
• 2x09 - What Kate Did: "Because I don't have murder in my heart."