Obituary of Edward W. Sparkes

Edward W. Sparkes of Syracuse, New York passed peacefully from this world on Friday January 18, 2013 at the VA Medical Center in Syracuse, with his family by his side. Mr. Sparkes was born on November 3, 1908, the son of George Andrew and Jane Mary (Saunders) Sparkes of Syracuse. For the majority of his youth, Mr. Sparkes resided on the west side of Syracuse, in the Tipperary Hill neighborhood. While attending Syracuse University, Mr. Sparkes was employed by the Sanderson Halcomb Steel Company, which later became Cruicible Specialty Metals, from which Mr. Sparkes retired as a sales executive in 1972. Mr. Sparkes was married to Kathryn Claire (McDonald) Sparkes, who predeceased him in 1974. He was also predeceased by his parents, his brother George A. Sparkes, his sister Gertrude R. Sparkes, his sister Jane S. Kelly, his nephews Thomas Sparkes and Peter Kelly. Mr Sparkes is survived by his son James E. Sparkes (Karen Kelley) of Syracuse, his grandsons Matthew K. (Susan Powers) Sparkes, Bryan K. (Rebeccah Wells) Sparkes, his great grandson Oliver Powers Sparkes, all of Cambridge, Massachusetts, his nephew William Kelly of Syracuse, together with several nieces and nephews who reside throughout the country. Mr. Sparkes was a parishoner of St. Charles Roman Catholic Church in the town of Geddes, a twenty year member of Bellevue Country Club and a life member of the American Legion, Post 141 Manlius, NY and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 07872 Manlius, NY. Mr. Sparkes began his military service in 1928, when he enlisted as a member of Troop K, 121st Mounted Cavalry of the New York Army National Guard, of which he was the oldest surviving member. Until his death, Mr. Sparkes maintained his membership in the Cavalry Veterans Organization and Cavalry Golf Club in Manlius, New York. Although exempt from active duty service due to his occupation, at the outbreak of World War II Mr. Sparkes opted for U.S. Army Officer Candidate School at Camp Edwards MA, and was commissioned a 2nd Lt. He then joined the Army Corps of Engineers and was accepted as a member of the army's newest specialized unit, the Engineer Amphibian Command, 532nd Engineer Boat and Shore Regiment. Established for amphibous landings on short notice in any part of the world the unit underwent intensive training on the infamous "Higgins landing craft" off the shores of Cape Cod MA. His unit, the 2nd Engineer Special Brigade, known as the "Cape Cod Commandos", was swiftly deployed to the war against Japan in the Pacific Theatre of Operations. Rising to the rank of Captain, Mr. Sparkes became a Company Commander of the 2nd Engineer Special Brigade. The 2nd E.S.B. recorded the longest list of combat operations of any unit in the U.S. Armed Forces during World War II. Capt. Sparkes was one of 233 U.S. army officers and enlisted men to train and carry out joint combat operations with the famous Australian Army 9th Aussie division ("Rats of Tobruk"). Throughout his military service, Capt. Sparkres proudly wore the Red-T uniform patch of the Australian army combat division. Of the 900 original members of his unit, Capt. Sparkes was one of five that remained at the end of the war. During his three years of deployment in the Pacific Theatre of Operations, Capt. Sparkes received numerous awards for his leadership, courage and gallantry. Foremost among the awards that he earned is the Bronze Star Medal. Originally awarded for heroic achievement in connection with military operations on Leyte and Mindoro, Philippine Islands, Capt. Sparkes was later presented with two additional Bronze Stars for the Southern Philippine and Luzon campaigns. Capt. Sparkes received the U.S. Presidential Citation, Philippine Presidential Citation and outstanding duty citations from the governments of Australia, New Zeland and Korea. In 1991 he received the highest military honor awarded by New York State, the Conspicious Service Cross. His love of golf began before World War I, when Mr. Sparkes would play a round with young friends in Burnet Park, using makeshift or borrowed clubs and golf balls lost by others. His passion for the game continued until he reached the age of 97 when, due to physical constraints, he could not play without using a cart. For years prior, he would walk the Cavalry Club course often using only a 5 iron, and still scoring lower than those a third his age. His abilities became legendary when, after shooting his age nearly every year since turning 76, Mr. Sparkes was interviewed for a television sports special feature. His love of golf was passed on to his son and grandchildren, whom he taught to swing a club when they were three years old. In later years Mr. Sparkes was known to compete with his colleagues for collection of the greatest number of lost golf balls at the Cavalry Club. He retreived literally thousands, and inspired his grandson's used golf ball business. On the occasion of his 100th birthday, Ed was honored by his family, many friends and golfing buddies at the Cavalry Club. A true American hero and inspiration to all that knew and loved him, the void that Ed Sparkes will leave in our lives will be extremely difficult to fill. Services: 11:30 a.m. Monday at St. Ann's Church, 4471 Onondaga Blvd., Syracuse where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated. The Rite of Committal and burial with full military honors will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery, DeWitt. Calling hours will be 1 to 4p.m. Sunday at Tindall Funeral Home, 1921 W Genesee St, Syracuse. Contributions in lieu of flowers may be made to the St. Lucy's Parish Ministries, c/o Rev. James Matthews, 432 Gifford Street, Syracuse, ny 13204.