WWII HONOR ROLL & MONUMENT PROJECT

As the Second World War was ending, the local chapter of Blue Star Mothers wanted to honor the people from the Rochester area who served in the armed forces during the war. After successful fundraising, the WWII Roll Call Memorial was dedicated at the intersection of Fifth Street (now University Drive) and Walnut Boulevard in 1945. The honor roll structure was built by the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company with sixteen Carrara glass panels on the monument’s six sides. The rare Carrara panels were inscribed with 1,116 names of local citizens who served in uniform during the war, including 26 who gave their lives in the service of their country and the cause of freedom.

The intersection where the memorial was originally placed put it in the path of wayward automobile traffic and flying stones. Because of these road hazards the honor roll was moved in 1951 to Second and Main, where it remained until 1964 when it was under threat of removal due to urban sprawl. The Blue Star Mothers fought the city planners and advocated for repairing the honor roll and moving it to another Rochester location in late 1963, unfortunately the memorial was still removed and dismantled in 1964 and placed in storage.

In 2001, RAHS began a campaign to restore the honor roll and place it on public display as the Blue Star Mothers had intended. The community raised the necessary funds of $40,000 to research and locate replacement panels of the Carrara glass and arranged for an appropriate site near the Rochester Municipal Park. The total cost to move the monument, build forms, bases, and sidewalks was $150,000 – all donated monetarily or in kind. The honor roll was rededicated on May 25, 2002. An additional 24 names, identified during the restoration process, were added to a tribute section located behind the monument.

Now more than 20 years later, the memorial is showing its age. It needs to be repainted and landscaped appropriately. RAHS is rallying behind this project again and is prepared to raise funds for materials and services that will make this memorial a point of pride in our community again.

Late last year, RAHS received a 2023 Community Enhancement Grant from the Community Foundation of Greater Rochester. The $5,600 grant will cover the costs of repairs and maintenance to the World War II Honor Roll & Monument and will help the society with cleaning and repainting the monument. It will also help establish an ongoing society fund for maintenance and annual clean-up of the site’s landscaping. The monument has a long history in the community and is a vital part of remembering the sacrifices of Rochester area veterans who defended America’s freedoms.

To donate to the fund, tap the link at the top of this page or send a check with WWII Memorial written in the memo section to: RAHS, PO BOX 80783, Rochester, MI 48309. If you would like to help us with the memorial through the donation of services (painting, landscaping) or with planning the repairs, please call us at 248-266-5440 or send us an email at rahsupdates@gmail.com. — Karen Lemon

SERGEANT SPARKS (aka SPARKY)

In the fall of 1939, the Adams family from Canton, Ohio, purchased a Doberman Pinscher for their daughter, Joyce. On their way home, they named the puppy Sparks after passing a Champion Spark Plug billboard. Sparks’ physical growth surprised the family and, despite being a gentle giant, his look and bark scared neighbors. In early 1943, the family made the difficult decision to donate Sparks to the Devil Dog program of the United States Marine Corps after learning about the Dogs for Defense program. The U.S. Marines had chosen Dobermans as its official dog.

In March 1943, Sparks entered the military and received training from his handler, Kenneth Shepperd. Sparks was promoted to Private First Class (PFC) on June 23, 1943. In November, PFC Sparks and PFC Shepperd were deployed overseas, participating in several battles in the Pacific Theater, including Bougainville, Guadalcanal, Guam, and Okinawa.

The alertness displayed by Sparks and dogs like him was credited with saving patrols from falling into deadly enemy ambushes on more than one occasion. Additionally, Sparks accompanied the Marine Raiders on many missions into enemy territory, performing his scouting duties under fire. Like other marines, Sparks endured the hardships of living in uncovered foxholes under tropical downpours, having little sleep, eating reduced rations, and going on grueling marches. He was trained to attack upon command though his first job was to alert and indicate the whereabouts of the enemy.

In March 1944, PFC Sparks was promoted to Corporal, and on March 23, 1945, after completing 31 months of active service as a Marine War Dog, Corporal Sparks was promoted to Sergeant by the U.S. Marine Corps.

In December 1945, Sgt. Sparks was transported to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, for rehabilitation and de-training. In March 1946, Sgt. Sparks was promoted to Platoon Sergeant. In April 1946, Platoon Sgt. Sparks was assigned to his new handler, PFC John (Jack) Patterson of Rochester, MI. PFC Patterson formally requested that Sparks live with him at his home residence at 611 Wilcox Street in Rochester. This request was approved by the United States Marine Corps. Platoon Sergeant Sparks remained a resident of Rochester until his death in 1947.

Platoon Sergeant Sparks was given a formal military service on July 6, 1947, at the Happy Hunting Grounds Memorial Park in South Lyon, Michigan. Under the leadership and dedication of U.S. Army veteran Phil Weitlauf, these grounds have been beautifully restored and renamed the Michigan War Dog Memorial.

Sergeant Sparks received seven service citations for heroic participation in World War II.

RAHS plans to recognize Sparks’ accomplishments as part of the WWII Honor Roll & Monument Restoration project!