Sprunger, Wayne A. 

WAYNE ANDREW

 SPRUNGER

PRIVATE 1st CLASS
U.S. ARMY

Wayne Andrew Sprunger was born February 26, 1925, his parents were Andrew and Kate (Liechty) Sprunger. According to family, he didn't play any sports in high school and "kept on the good side". He did his work and never was in trouble. Upon graduation from Berne High School, he became a trucker. He later heard that the army was taking volunteers to serve their country against the axis powers in World War II.

Wayne received medic training at Camp Barkley, Texas from November 7 to March 29 in 1944 and later at Camp Reynolds, Pennsylvania from March 29 to May 15, 1944. In March 1945, Private Sprunger joined the 121st Infantry Regiment, 8th Infantry Division of General Patton's Third Army in Europe. 

PFC Sprunger joined the Third Army during intense combat in the Ruhr region of Germany, a major economic center. The "Battle of the Ruhr Pocket" was the last major offense by the Allies pushing eastward. The allied victory lead to the capture and surrender of over 300,000 German soldiers. The Ruhr District was the first and last battle PFC Sprunger fought in. During this battle, PFC Sprunger attempted to save another soldier who had been wounded. During this attempt, Sprunger was shot in the back and died as a result on April 5, 1945 just a few weeks shy of V-E Day and less than a month since he had entered combat.

Private First Class Sprunger was temporarily buried in the U.S. Military Cemetery at Margraten, Holland but was later moved to Berne, Indiana. 

For his act of heroism during the Ruhr Battle, PFC Sprunger was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star, the nations fourth highest military award. Additionally, he was awarded the Purple Heart for his wounds resulting in death, the WWII Victory Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, and the American Campaign Medal. 

Information collected and researched by Aaron Witmer (great nephew of PFC Sprunger), 2014. 

SOURCES

American Legion Post No468, and Berne & Community Business Men, comps. Service Record: World War I and II - Book of Men and Women of Berne, Indiana and Community. Marceline: Walsworth Brothers, n.d. Print.

Indiana Historical Bureau, comp. Gold Star Honor Roll: Adams County. Bloomington: Indiana War History Commission, 1949. Print. Vol. 1 of Indiana in World War II.

Miller, Ann. Personal Interview. December 2014.

Miller, Ted. Personal Interview. December 2014.

Sprunger, Ed. Personal Interview. December 2014.

             “The 8th Infantry Division during World War II.” Ushmm.org, 2024,  encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/encircling-the-ruhr. Accessed 19 Dec. 2024.

Yearbook Staff, ed. 1944 Yearbook. Berne, IN: Berne High School, 1944. Print.

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