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
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