There are many fictional tales that may have had some basis in the existence of Colonel Samuels.  For one, he bears a striking resemblance to the Uncle Sam recruting posters of WW II, but for his extreme musculature.  For another, his powers are rumored to be the source of a serum that was used to creat super-soldiers; sort of the inverse of the Captain America legend of the comic books, wherein the good Captain got his powers from a serum.

Whatever the case there seems to be much documentation dating as far back as WW I about his exploits but little knowledge of where he came from.  Colonel Samuels fought in all of the great American wars of the past century but for the most recent.  Some say that he developed a conscience about American covert activities during the Vietnam war, while others claim he developed it after helping to deliver the bomb at Hiroshema; Nonetheless today he is a proud sentinel of liberty, but one who no longer will take a life in the cause of freedom.