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Sgt Wesley William Sperling

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Birth	:	22 Oct 1946 Arlington, Washington County, Nebraska, USA
Death	:	5 Apr 1968 Thái Nguyên, Vietnam
Burial	:	Gods Acre Cemetery, Arlington, Washington County, USA
Coordinate	:	41.5060997, -96.3677979
Plot	:	Block 15, Lot 5
Description	:	Alpha Company 1st Battalion 35th Infantry Regiment Vietnam War The decorations earned by SGT Wesley W. Sperling include: the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Unit Citation. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Transcription by FindaGrave contributor Cheryl Hutchinson Mueller # 48551989 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Courtesy of Washington County Genealogy The following article was in a Family History Book on the Stork family: WESLEY W. SPERLING SGT, USMC (Photo) Wesley William Sperling attended St. Paul’s Lutheran School and was... Read More	Alpha Company 1st Battalion 35th Infantry Regiment Vietnam War The decorations earned by SGT Wesley W. Sperling include: the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Unit Citation. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Transcription by FindaGrave contributor Cheryl Hutchinson Mueller # 48551989 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Courtesy of Washington County Genealogy The following article was in a Family History Book on the Stork family: WESLEY W. SPERLING SGT, USMC (Photo) Wesley William Sperling attended St. Paul’s Lutheran School and was confirmed in the Christian faith at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Arlington, Nebraska, in 1961 by Pastor Carl Hellmann. He attended Arlington High School and graduated with the class of 1965. He attended Universal Trade School in Omaha, Nebraska, where he studied Mechanics. He graduated from a one-year course. Wesley entered the service of the United States Marines in November of 1966 and was sent to Vietnam in the spring of 1967. He was a sergeant in Company E, 35th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division, Vietnam, P.H. Sergeant Sperling was killed as a result of a gunshot wound on 5 April 1968 at the age of 21 years. He had served in Vietnam for one year. Sergeant Sperling was the first Vietnam casualty from Washington County, Nebraska. His body was returned to Arlington, Nebraska, for burial in God’s acre, St. Paul’s Lutheran Cemetery, north of Arlington, NE. A Military funeral was held at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church with Pastor Carl Hellman officiating. Wesley was awarded the Bronze Star medal for heroism. The citation accompanying the medal reads in part: “…On 5 April 1968 Sergeant Sperling was a forward observer for the mortar platoon of Company A, which was conducting a search and destroy operation west of Kontu City. As the unit moved through the dense jungle undergrowth, it was brought under heavy fire from a large North Vietnamese force firing rockets, mortars and automatic weapons fire from well camouflaged positions…Sergeant Sperling skillfully directed mortar fire throughout the firefight, eliminating numerous hostile positions and keeping the enemy forces off balance. As darkness approached, Company A began to break contact to take more effective night positions. As the unit began moving back, Sergeant Sperling saw a comrade too seriously wounded to join the movement. He immediately began administering first aid. As he began to move the injured man to safety, he was mortally wounded by the heavy enemy fire. His skillful actions contributed immensely to successfully warding off the hostile assault and clearly prevented more serious casualties…” Other posthumous awards presented to him are the Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Medal, Vietnamese Service Medal, Combat Infantry Bade, and Expert Marksmanship Badge. His name is on the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C. At the time of his death his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Sperling, three brothers, Leon, Jerome and David, and sisters Sheryl and Janelle Sperling survived him, as well as a sister Arlene (Mrs. Don Reed) of Spokane, Washington. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Transcription by FindaGrave contributor MrsB # 47910340 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In Memory of SGT. WESLEY W. SPERLING Date of Birth Oct. 22, 1946; Date of Death April 5, 1968 Place and Time of Services: St. Paul Lutheran Church, Arlington, Nebraska 2:00 P.M. Wednesday, May 8, 1968. Clergyman Rev. Carl Hellmann, Arlington, Nebraska. Music: Hymn by Congregation #651 “Be Still My Soul”; Song by Choir: “Abide with Me”; Hymn by Congregation #587 “Asleep in Jesus, Blessed Sleep”; Mr. George Bluma, organist. Place of Interment St.Paul Lutheran Cemetery, Arlington, Nebraska. Casket Bearers: Active: Richard Holtman, Jerry Scheer, Donald Sperling, Donald Brown, Norman Misfeldt, Neil Lang; Honorary: Steve Sibbernsen, Terry Brown, Rodney Grefe, Stanley Misfeldt, James Schlapfer, Sidney Clausen, Dennis Wilkins, Don Dickmeyer ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Funeral leaflet courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair, Nebraska library. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Sgt Wesley William Sperling's memorial?
Sgt Wesley William Sperling's memorial is located at: Gods Acre Cemetery, Arlington, Washington County, USA.
When did Sgt Wesley William Sperling death?
Sgt Wesley William Sperling death on 5 Apr 1968 in Thái Nguyên, Vietnam
Where are the coordinates of the Sgt Wesley William Sperling's memorial?
Latitude: 41.5060997
Longitude: -96.3677979

Family Members:

Parent

Elmer Adolph Edmund Sperling

(1909 - 1993)

Helen Anna Vogt Sperling

(1913 - 1977)

Siblings

Jerome E. Sperling

(1943 - 2019)

Janelle A. Sperling Schakat

(1951 - 2008)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Gods Acre Cemetery
Arlington, Washington County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5060997, -96.3677979

2. Hartung Cemetery
Washington County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5182991, -96.4257965

3. Arlington Cemetery
Arlington, Washington County, USA
Coordinate: 41.4597015, -96.3392029

4. Fontanelle Lutheran Cemetery
Fontanelle, Washington County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5384827, -96.4214783

5. Colby-Morley Cemetery
Arlington, Washington County, USA
Coordinate: 41.4664050, -96.3126470

6. Lincoln Lutheran Cemetery
Orum, Washington County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5538390, -96.2889030

7. Telbasta Cemetery
Washington County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5824100, -96.3866000

8. Immanuel Cemetery Old
Washington County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5964012, -96.4300003

9. Rose Hill Cemetery
Orum, Washington County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5814060, -96.2698940

10. Vacoma Cemetery
Washington County, USA
Coordinate: 41.6130981, -96.3478012

11. Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery
Washington County, USA
Coordinate: 41.6122500, -96.4252700

12. First Congregational Church Columbarium
Fremont, Dodge County, USA
Coordinate: 41.4439000, -96.4974300

13. Memorial Cemetery
Fremont, Dodge County, USA
Coordinate: 41.4516210, -96.5058210

14. Saint James Episcopal Church Columbarium
Fremont, Dodge County, USA
Coordinate: 41.4334370, -96.4944130

15. Kennard Cemetery
Kennard, Washington County, USA
Coordinate: 41.4738998, -96.2138977

16. Brewster Cemetery
Kennard, Washington County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5088250, -96.2042950

17. Ridge Cemetery
Fremont, Dodge County, USA
Coordinate: 41.4425011, -96.5231018

18. Calvary Cemetery
Fremont, Dodge County, USA
Coordinate: 41.4435997, -96.5271988

19. Prairie View Cemetery
Washington, Washington County, USA
Coordinate: 41.4225006, -96.2241974

20. Elk City Cemetery
Elk City, Douglas County, USA
Coordinate: 41.3725014, -96.2763977

21. Thone Cemetery
Herman, Washington County, USA
Coordinate: 41.6286011, -96.2466965

22. Logan Cemetery
Winslow, Dodge County, USA
Coordinate: 41.6342010, -96.4944000

23. Valley Cemetery
Valley, Douglas County, USA
Coordinate: 41.3446999, -96.3794022

24. Hooper Cemetery
Hooper, Dodge County, USA
Coordinate: 41.6032982, -96.5419006