Sparks, John Travis
Male
Verified Lance Cpl. John Travis Sparks, 23, of Chicago, Illinois, was a U.S. Marine serving with 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, based at Camp Pendleton, California. He died on October 8, 2010, in Helmand province, Afghanist
Their Story
John Travis Sparks was a lance corporal in the United States Marine Corps. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, part of the 1st Marine Division from Camp Pendleton, California. His unit deployed to Afghanistan as part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) during Operation Enduring Freedom.
In late 2010, his battalion was operating in Helmand province, a region in southern Afghanistan that was a major center of insurgent activity and intense combat. The unit was engaged in counterinsurgency operations as part of a larger U.S. troop surge aimed at stabilizing key population centers.
On October 8, 2010, Lance Cpl. Sparks was killed during a hostile incident in Helmand province. The Department of Defense announced his death the following day. No further operational details of the incident were released in initial reports.
His death occurred during the final years of Operation Enduring Freedom, a conflict that began in October 2001 and concluded with the transition to Operation Resolute Support in December 2014. Sparks was one of 499 U.S. service members killed in Afghanistan in 2010, the deadliest year of the war for American forces.
Explore Further
Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S.-led combat mission in Afghanistan, concluded in December 2014. See the full roster of those killed in this conflict.
Among those documented in the same conflict: Andrews, Evander Earl, Edmunds, Jonn Joseph, Stonesifer, Kristofor Tif, Davis, Bryant Leroy.
