Henry J. Spargo was born September 28, 1919 in Southport, NY to Jesse James Spargo (1889-1974) and Wilhelmina May Pock  (1892-1972). His father was a salesman and was from Pennsylvania. His mom from New York. According to his Find a Grave and U.S. Census records he was the fourth of five children. David, Mildred and John were older and Leona was younger. His parents were married on October 14, 1913. Growing up the family lived at 99 Middle Ridge Road, Chemung, NY. Henry was active in The Epworth League, a Methodist youth organization. As a senior at Milford Highschool he traveled to Washington, D.C. He graduated from Milford High School in Milford, NY in 1937. The 1940 U.S. Census recorded Henry, now 20 years old, was a hiredman on the dairy farm of William and Edith Elwell, in Maryland, NY.

The social pages on local newspapers reported him frequently traveling back to his parents house who were then living in Portlandville, NY for visits – mostly Sunday dinners. He joined the New York National Guard on September 30, 1940.  It's worth noting that on September 25, 1940, a full year before Pearl Harbor, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 8551 which Ordered Certain Units and Members of the National Guard of the United States Into the Active Military Service of the United States. This included men of the 27th Division, the New York Division. Henry reported for duty less than three weeks later and entered the service as a member of Company G, 106th Infantry in the 27th Infantry Division with service number 20270356.

For its service in World War II, the 106th had 12 companies, all initially recruited from the communities of upstate New York. Companies A, B, C, and D of the first battalion were all from Albany. Companies E and H were recruited from Binghamton. Companies F, G, I, and K were recruited from Walton, Oneonta, Mohawk, and Oneida respectively and companies L and M were formed in Utica. Additional Regimental troops were drawn from Catskill, Hudson, and Rome.

He reported to Camp McClelland, Alabama where at one point he spent three weeks in the hospital with a case of "the grip". His parents are invited to the Methodist Church in Portlandville, NY in July 1942 to be part of a ceremony that places a star on a flag representing his service.

The 106th departed for Hawaii on March 10, 1942 and arrived there on March 15, 1942. The Regiment was designated as a floating reserve for the projected Marshall Islands' operations and on December 14, 1943 was attached to the V Amphibious Corp. for training. The Regiment’s 2nd battalion occupied Majuro Atoll on February 1, 1944, expecting to encounter strong resistance, but instead finding that the Japanese had withdrawn their troops months earlier. The battalion remained there until March 5, 1944 when it was sent back to Oahu.

The Regiment landed on Saipan on June 20, 1944, several days after the rest of the Division. The 106th was heavily involved in the fighting for Saipan’s dominant terrain feature - a 1,554-foot mountain called Mount Tapotchau. The 106th initially fought along a ridge line near the mountain’s base and in an open valley at the base of the ridge line, two terrain features that were grimly dubbed Purple Heart Ridge and Death Valley. Later in the fight, following the reduction of most of the Japanese defenses and the failure of their Banzai charge, the 106th was instrumental in repelling the second and final Japanese counterattack.

According to Find a Grave records, Pfc. Spargo is killed on Saipan on June 29, 1944. U.S. World War II Hospital Admission Card File records indicate only that he died in the line of duty, in battle, in June 1944. His official IDPF file noted his death on July 1, 1944 and that he was buried that same day in the Army Cemetery #1 on Saipan, Grave 302, Row 9, Plot 1. At his father's request, he is permanently interred at the Honolulu National Cemetery in Hawaii. He was 25 years old.

Memorial services are held for Henry at the Methodist Church in Portlandville, NY on August 27, 1944.

If you notice anything erroneous in this profile or have additional information to contribute to it, please contact Jim Greenberg at nez13820@gmail.com. 

Sources

Year: 1930; Census Place: Veteran, Chemung, New York; Page: 4A; Enumeration District: 0062; FHL microfilm: 2341150

Year: 1940; Census Place: Maryland, Otsego, New York; Roll: m-t0627-02716; Page: 5A; Enumeration District: 39-18

Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/134180783/wilhelmina-may-spargo, accessed January 17, 2023.

Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/120436285/henry-j-spargo, accessed January 17, 2023.

IDPF, Individual Deceased Personnel File, Henry J. Spargo, 20270356.

New York National Guard enlisted men and noncommissioned officers activated for federal service during World War II. New York (State). National Guard. Infantry Division, 27th United States, Army. Infantry. New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center, Saratoga Springs, New York.

106th Infantry Regiment, New York State Museum and Veterans Research Center, https://museum.dmna.ny.gov/unit-history/conflict/world-war-2-1939-1945/106th-infantry-regiment, accessed May 21, 2022

The Otsego Farmer, Cooperstown, NY, Feb. 28, 1941, pg. 6.

The Otsego Farmer, Cooperstown, NY, July 17, 1942, pg. 6. 

Supporting Files