Marine Lance Cpl. John T. Sparks

Remember Our Heroes

Marine Lance Cpl. John T. Sparks, 23, of Chicago

LCpl. Sparks was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.; died Oct. 8, 2010 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

Camp Pendleton News:

A Camp Pendleton Marine died while serving in Afghanistan, military officials confirmed this week.

Lance Cpl. John T. Sparks, 23, was killed by small-arms fire during combat operations against enemy forces in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, on Friday.

Sparks, of Chicago, enlisted as a Marine in February 2008 and was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton.

This was the machine gunner's first deployment.

Sparks was awarded the National Defense Service Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal during his service.

Military officials will give Sparks' family a Purple Heart and Combat Action Ribbon, which were awarded posthumously.

"The Marines and sailors of the 1st Marine Division mourn the loss of Lance Cpl. Sparks," military officials stated in a media release. "Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family. "

Chicago, IL:

A Chicago Marine on his first combat deployment was killed in Afghanistan on Friday, officials said today.

Lance Cpl. John T. Sparks, 23, was killed by small-arms fire while fighting enemy forces in Afghanistan's Helmand Province, according to the Marine Corps. Sparks served as a machine gunner.

Sparks, who enlisted in February 2008, was based out of Camp Pendleton, Calif., and was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division.

He had earned a number of honors as a Marine, including the National Defense Service Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. He has been posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and Combat Action Ribbon.

A family member reached by telephone on Tuesday declined comment.

"The Marines and sailors of the 1st Marine Division mourn the loss of Lance Cpl. Sparks. Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family," Marine Corps officials said in a statement released Tuesday.

Marine Lance Cpl. John T. Sparks was killed in action on 10/8/10.