VIETNAM - SPARKS, JOHN WESLEY

Sparks, John Wesley

VIETNAM - SPARKS, JOHN WESLEY
SPARKS, JOHN WESLEY

Rank: Private First Class

Unit: I Troop, 3rd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment

MOS: 11D – Armor Reconnaissance Specialist

Awards: Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal

Unit awards: Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm device

Enlisted by: Selected Service

Date of birth: 24-Sep-1949

Hometown: Kettle Falls, Washington

Marital status: Never Married

Campaign: Vietnam Conflict

Entered service: 24-Jul-1969

Start of tour: 20-Dec-1969

Incident date: 6-Jan-1970

Date of casualty: 9-Jan-1970

Age at death: 20

Cause of death: Non-hostile, died of illness/injury. Vehicle Crash (MC). Vehicle loss or crash.
John Wesley Sparks died as a result of injuries received while a gunner on a military vehicle on a military mission when an explosion occurred in the vehicle. He was admitted to a military medical facility and later expired. / Gunner on Armored Cavalry Assault Vehicle (ACAV) on reconnaissance mission.  Trip flare ignited in box of grenades and ammo in track vehicle causing explosion.  Individual admitted to 2d Surgical Hospital, Lai Khe, 6 Jan 1970 at 2020 hrs and placed on Very Serious Injured (VSI) list 7 Jan 1970 at 0230 hrs.  Transferred and admitted to 3d Field Hospital, Saigon, 8 Jan 1970 at 1510 hrs placed on Very Serious Injured (VSI) list 8 Jan 1970 at 1510 hrs and later expired.  Incident occurred on 6 Jan 1970 at 1900 hrs.

Location of fatality: Binh Long, South Vietnam, XT 766 690

Place of interment: Meyers Falls Cemetery, Kettle Falls, Washington, USA

View this soldier‘s Find a Grave page (opens in a new window)

Vietnam Veterans Memorial panel and row: 14W 021 (view Vietnam Veterans Memorial link in a new window)