DOB/DOD: March 6, 1924 (New Britain, CT) – February 20, 1945; 20 years old
MARITAL STATUS: Unmarried
LOCAL ADDRESS: 65 Black Rock Avenue, New Britain
ENLISTMENT: May 21, 1943, in Springfield, Massachusetts
SERVICE NUMBER: 871475
UNIT: Company G, 2nd Battalion, 25th Marines, 4th Marine Division
MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY: 0522, Guard
FAMILY: Born to Frank (1876-1959) and Marjanna “Mary” Kopchinski Sparkowski (1887-1982), both born in Poland. The third youngest of ten children. Siblings are Pauline Sparkowski Anderson (1907-1994), John (1913-2002), Frances Sparkowski Lyga (1916-2005), Helen Sparkowski Hodneski (1918-2013), Jane Sparkowski Ahern (1920-1991), Leonard (1922-1982), Eleanor Sparkowski Romano (1927-2007), and James (1931-2018). 1 Worked at Fafnir Bearing Company in New Britain prior to the service. 2
CIRCUMSTANCES: Boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina, in the summer of 1943. Stationed at the Marine Barracks, Submarine Base, New London, Connecticut, from late 1943 through Spring of 1944. He was then assigned to the Fifth Replacement Draft, San Diego, California, then on to his final unit, the 4th Marine Division, 25th Marines, 2nd Battalion, Company G. 3 Killed in action from multiple wounds on his right side. 2 PFC Sparkowski was in the same company as PFC Joseph Gearhart of Amston. They died a week apart.
Photo contributed by Karen Stzaba
From the New Britain Herald dated May 10, 1948; contributed by Danielle from the New Britain Public Library, Local History Room, 20 High Street, New Britain, Connecticut.
SHIP BRINGING HOME SPARKOWSKI’S BODY
Marine, Killed in Combat, Among War Dead Soon to Reach United States
Remains of 1,941 Americans who lost their lives during World War II are being brought back to the United States from the Pacific Islands aboard the U.S. Army Transport Albert M. Boe, the Department of the Army announced today. Among them is the body of Private First Class Edward F. Sparkowski, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Sparkowski of 65 Black Rock Avenue. The remains of 33 other Connecticut men are on board. PFC Sparkowski was killed in action on Iwo Jima on February 20, 1945, while serving with the U.S. Marine Corps. He was 21 years old. He was inducted into service in June 1943 and served at Parris Island, New London, and in California before being transferred to Honolulu. He was then assigned to the units which invaded Iwo Jima. PFC Sparkowski was born here and attended local schools and the New Britain Senior High School. He was employed by the Tuttle & Bailey Company when he left for service. He was a member of Sacred Heart Church.
Honored on the New Britain Veterans Memorial at the corner of Main and West Main Street, 27 West Main Street, New Britain. Photo by Jeff DeWitt.
Initially buried in the 4th Marine Division Cemetery on Iwo Jima, Plot 1, Row 15, Grave 713. At his father’s request, his remains were repatriated and buried in Sacred Heart Cemetery, 665 Burritt Street, New Britain, Connecticut; Section C, Row 20, Lot 357, Grave 7. 2Photo by Jeff DeWitt.
1 – 1940 census https://www.ancestry.com/cs/1940-census
2 – USMC Casualty Report received via FOIA request
3 – USMC Muster Rolls: https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1089/