Lance Corporal John T. Sparks was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, California. He died while conducting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

Sparks found his comfort zone operating machine guns, so much so that it prompted one comrade to say that Sparks “loved” the weapons. He always carried his weight, and when others couldn’t, John would pick up their slack. He was a selfless person and always gave everything he had, never asking for anything in return.

John loved his family. He loved his country. And he loved God. He left this world doing what he loved—serving and giving his all.