Charles Byrd Sparks (1918 - 1945)

Born 13 Apr 1918 in Ensley, Jefferson, Alabama, United States

Ancestors

Died 30 Jul 1945 at age 27 in Philippine Sea

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Biography

Coxswain Charles Sparks served in the United States Navy in World War II
Service started: 1944
Unit(s): USS Indianapolis (CA-35)
Service ended: 30 Jul 1945

Coxswain Charles Sparks was Killed in Action during World War II.

Charles Sparks was awarded the Purple Heart.

Charles was born in 1918. His parents were Charles Byrd Sparks 1886–1931 and Ethel Acie (Griffin) Sparks 1893–1970.

Charles enlisted in the naval reserve before 10 Nov 1942 , he was stationed on the USS Indianapolis, where he served as Coxswain.^[1]

In July 1945 the USS Indianapolis was sent on a secret mission to deliver the components of the Little Boy atomic bomb to Tinian Island without an escort, on the return trip, still without escort, it was attacked by a Japanese submarine. The USS Indianapolis sank in 12 minutes on 30 Jul 1945 with some 300 of the 1,195 crewmen aboard going down with the ship. With few lifeboats and many without life jackets, only 316 of the nearly 900 men set adrift survived the 4 days in shark infested water before rescue. Charles was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart. The crew of the USS Indianapolis was later awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.^[2][3]

Charles is honored at two memorials: USS Indianapolis National Memorial, Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana and Fort William Mckinley, Manila, Philippines.^[4][5]

Sources

1. ↑ U.S., World War II Navy Muster Rolls, 1938-1949 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/37707508:1143?tid=105744784&pid=340059952328&queryId=259e26fe68810e8a99b665acfeee254a&_phsrc=rWM10&_phstart=successSource
2. ↑ U.S., Navy Casualties Books https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/103169:2324?tid=&pid=&queryId=c96d45f903a3cb4b228347f28b5a6377&_phsrc=EzO8640&_phstart=successSource
3. ↑ U.S., Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Unaccounted-for Remains, Group B (Unrecoverable) https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/22127:62207?tid=&pid=&queryId=c96d45f903a3cb4b228347f28b5a6377&_phsrc=EzO8641&_phstart=successSource
4. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/194076685/charles-byrd-sparks: accessed 17 August 2023), memorial page for Charles Byrd Sparks (13 Apr 1918–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 194076685, citing U.S.S. Indianapolis National Memorial, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana, USA; Maintained by Laura J. Stewart (contributor 47412616).
5. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56777725/charles-byrd-sparks: accessed 17 August 2023), memorial page for COX Charles Byrd Sparks Jr. (13 Apr 1918–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 56777725, citing Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines; Maintained by IrishEyes (contributor 47644540).

• "United States Census, 1920", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MX86-M1Y : Thu Jul 20 21:32:23 UTC 2023), Entry for Chas B Sparks and Ethel Sparks, 1920
• "United States Census, 1930", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:3LWB-TZM : Fri Aug 04 12:52:47 UTC 2023), Entry for Charles B Sparks and Charles B Sparks Jr., 1930
• "United States Census, 1940", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V151-GWB : Sun Jul 30 23:34:58 UTC 2023), Entry for Ethel Sparks and Charles B Sparks, 1940
• "Alabama, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1940-1945," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2CT-7VZK : 14 March 2020), Charles Byrd Sparks, 16 Oct 1940; from records extracted by FamilySearch and images digitized by Ancestry; citing Ensley, Jefferson, Alabama
• Charles is included on the USS Indianapolis in World War II Wikitree Space Page https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:USS_Indianapolis_%28CA-35%29_in_World_War_II