PFC Ronald David Sparks -
Killed In Action April 6, 1968
Company D, 2nd Battalion, 12th
Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division
Carolyn Sparks Edwards – Widow of Ronnie Sparks
(This story was originally written in 2000)
Ronald David Sparks. My hero. The love of my life. Ronnie Sparks was born on November 7, 1947, the third of eight children to Imogene and Claude Sparks. He grew up in the Wolf Creek area of Narrows, Virginia, in Giles County. Narrows is located in the mountains of southwest Virginia along the New River.
I met Ronnie in high school. We attended Narrows High School where both of us were in the same class. We started dating in our junior year, the fall of 1964. Ronnie was an outstanding athlete. He was on the track team, baseball team, basketball team, and was a great fullback on the football team. Ronnie was 6’1” tall – a big guy with a wonderfully big heart. I was a cheerleader – not quite 5’ tall. We did make a great couple.
After graduating from high school in 1966, Ronnie attended the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, that fall. He had received a football scholarship there. Unfortunately, not meeting the grade requirements, he was unable to return to W&M. Instead, that summer of 1967, he went to work and received his draft letter from the US Government. He was to report to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, for boot camp on August 21.
Ronnie had proposed to me in the spring, and he was adamant about getting married before he had to leave for boot camp. We were married in the Methodist Church in Rich Creek, Virginia, my hometown, on August 12, 1967, just nine days before he had to leave. We were both 19 years old and so much in love.
Ronnie came home from boot camp on October 7. He had to report to Fort Jackson, South Carolina, for advanced individual training on October 27. He came home for Christmas. I still have the radio he gave me. We already knew he was being sent to Vietnam. I took him to the airport in Roanoke, Virginia, on January 12, 1968, to begin his journey to Vietnam. I’ll never forget that day. It was one of the saddest days of my life. I was numb. I know he was scared. As I watched him walk towards the plane, I felt, in my heart, I would never see him alive again. I certainly didn’t want to think that, but I “just knew.” Over 20 years passed before I found out that his Mother had felt the same way.
Ronnie’s tour of duty in Vietnam began on February 4, 1968. He had been there for only a couple of weeks when I received a telegram on February 25 notifying me that he had been wounded in the arm on February 21 in the Battle of Hue during the Tet Offensive. He was sent to Japan to recover from his wounds. That is when Ronnie called me – the last time I was to ever hear his voice again. He told me he had not received any letters from me or his family. I couldn’t believe it. I had written to him every day. Those letters eventually were returned to me unopened. Oh, how sad that was.
In March, after several weeks in Japan and the Army deciding he was well enough to return to the field, he was sent back to Vietnam during the time the fighting was heavy in Khe Sanh. Just after a couple of weeks back in the field, two military men and my parents came for me at work one day to inform me that Ronnie had been reported missing in action. I couldn’t and didn’t want to believe it. After about 12 days, the doorbell at home rang about 5:30 one morning. I didn’t have to open the door to find out who was there. I knew I was about to be told that Ronnie’s body had been found. He had been killed on April 6, 1968, near LZ Wharton.
His body came home to Rich Creek with an escort a little over two weeks later. Just six days short of being married for 8 months, he lost his life at the age of 20. At the age of 19, I was planning a funeral in the same church in which we were married. His funeral was held on April 26, 1968. So many people came to honor him. The church was full, standing room only, and still more people outside. I had the engagement ring he gave me made into a pendant. I wear it every day to honor him.
Ronnie was one of five men from Giles County killed in Vietnam. His casket had been the only one of those five that could be opened. I was grateful for that – knowing for sure that it was him. But, my wonderful Ronnie was dead. He had died for his country.
Prior to his death, he had been awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Ribbon, the Purple Heart for wounds received in February, Combat Infantryman Badge, and the Sharpshooter Badge with rifle bar.
Posthumously, he was awarded the Bronze Star, the Air Medal, and the Purple Heart.
Narrows High School retired his football jersey (#36) in honor of him. It still hangs today in the hall of the high school.
He is being honored by the Vietnam Veterans War Memorial in Washington, DC, where I can go to honor him.
By God’s grace, I can sit on the ground and look at Ronnie’s name on “The Wall” at eye level. God knew I would go there to sit one day.
I’ll always miss him and love him. He is a hero to all of us. He is MY fallen and NEVER to be forgotten hero. The pain is still there. I still ask, “why?’ Why did he have to die? I lost part of my heart. He lost more. He lost his life.
POST SCRIPT – June 25, 2006
Ronnie’s name is located on Panel 48E, line 35 on “The Wall.”
I would like to thank those veterans who helped me through a most difficult time in my life after visiting The Wall in Washington, on April 6, 1997, 29 years to the day of Ronnie’s death. I was scared to go, but I knew I had to. My life was turned upside down after that visit realizing I was reliving all of this again. I thought I had dealt with Ronnie’s death in 1968, but I soon found out I hadn’t. I was diagnosed going through post-traumatic stress disorder. For the first time in 29 years, I was REALLY dealing with my loss and grief.
To these WONDERFUL men whom I consider my extended veteran family, having gone through a different Vietnam experience than myself, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. You will never know how much you have touched my life.
Bob “Doc” Bosma – From Missouri - a medic in C Battery, 1/77th Artillery. I was fortunate enough to meet Doc and his wife, Joanie, in May 1998, at a mini-12th Cav reunion in Louisville, Kentucky. After sharing information, it became evident that Doc had helped load Ronnie’s body onto a helicopter. Just knowing someone like Bob Bosma had touched Ronnie is a very comforting thought to me. To know that even in death, Ronnie was not alone.
Eddie Pine – From Texas, who died a few years ago, was Ronnie’s platoon leader for one day. I met Eddie the same time I met Doc. We had many telephone conversations and e-mails. He told me how Ronnie died.
Rick Rockholt – From Oregon, wrote me a note one day about Ronnie’s death. I responded to his letter immediately by telephone. He knew about Ronnie’s death and knowing more was comforting. Rick, unfortunately lost his son, Ricky Jr., in Iraq, in April 2005. After all Rick went through in Vietnam, then losing his son in Iraq, is too hard for anyone to understand.
David Bishop – From West Virginia, he and his wife, Susie, have been a rock of support to me. I have known them for years - they lived across the street from my parents. They are such a devoted and supportive couple of many Vietnam programs.
Jim Matthews – From North Carolina, he and his wife, Debbie, have been such a wonderful “shoulder to cry on” too. I’ve had the privilege of meeting both of them. They are a great couple.
Charles Krohn – From Virginia, the author of “The Last Battalion”. I had many conversations with him and met him in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1998. He gave me insight into what I was dealing with.
John Petruska – From New Jersey, a Marine Chaplain in Vietnam. He talked and comforted me at The Wall. His wife, Susie, was to go on the bus trip that day with him to Washington, but she decided not to go and told him that someone may need him there. That someone was me.
Jeff Burstein – From Pennsylvania, a Marine. He found me sitting at The Wall. I told him my story. He knew I was about to start dealing with Ronnie’s death (in short, I was opening up a can of worms). I have no idea how many telephone conversations we’ve had—but he has probably gotten the brunt of all my grief and anxiety. I’ve met him too. He is a good guy. He arrived home from Vietnam the day of Ronnie’s funeral.
Don Gibson – From North Carolina, another veteran I’ve met. He and his wife, Bobbie Jo, have been very kind and helpful too.
Charlie Bader – From Texas, one day in March of 2001 I had an e-mail message from him, and I don’t know how he got my address. We talked and found out that he was planning to create a 2/12th Cav casualty database on the Internet. I was happy to supply him with information I had for his endeavor. In May 2006, he asked me to submit my story for the 12th Cavalry Regiment website. GREAT job on the website, Charlie.
(The stories written by Rick Rockholt and Charlie Bader both mentioned four men who died - Ronnie was one of them).
“Thank You” is not enough. I am so thankful God sent all of you to help me. I couldn’t have “come through my ordeal” without each and every one of you.
I certainly do not want to leave out the Vietnam widows I have met and those I am in contact with, but have not met. The bond we have is very special. I SALUTE YOU!