Felix L. Sparks

Felix L. "Larry" Sparks was born in San Antonio, Texas, on August 2, 1917, the oldest of five children born to Felix Franklin Sparks and Martha Estelle (Ray) Sparks. When he was four, his family moved to Miami, Arizona, where his father worked in a copper mine. In March 1936 he joined the United States Army. Assigned to a coast artillery regiment, he served in Hawaii for two years. After his March 1938 discharge, Sparks returned to Arizona, where he attended the University of Arizona. In 1939, he participated in another C.M.T.C., at which he won several awards and was recommended for a commission. While attending college, Sparks also participated in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps. ==World War II==

Sparks served in the Army Reserve from 1939 to 1940, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant of Infantry in January 1940. He was called to active duty in February 1941 and assigned to the 45th Infantry Division. Sparks took part in the Italian campaign, Southern France campaign, and Central European campaign. He was promoted to first lieutenant in February 1942, captain in October 1942, major in August 1944, and lieutenant colonel in November 1944. During the war, Sparks's assignments included adjutant of 2nd Battalion, 157th Infantry Regiment and commander of the battalion's Company E. As a major and lieutenant colonel, he commanded the 45th Division's 3rd Battalion, 157th Infantry Regiment during 1944 and 1945. ==Post-World War II==

District attorney After the war, Sparks attended the University of Colorado Law School, graduating in 1948. After receiving his LL.B. degree, Sparks was admitted to the bar and began a practice in Delta, Colorado. Sparks also served as chairman of the Democratic Party in Delta County. In addition, he served as county attorney for Delta County and town attorney for the town of Hotchkiss. In January 1957, Sparks was appointed attorney for the Colorado Water Conservation Board. In June 1958, Sparks was appointed as the board's director. Sparks served as the board's director until retiring in April 1979. After his retirement, Sparks was a consultant on issues of water resource management and served as a member of the Upper Colorado River Commission. Continued military career In addition to his career in politics and government, Sparks remained in the military after World War II. In 1946, he was appointed as executive officer the Colorado Army National Guard's 157th Regimental Combat Team (RCT) with the rank of lieutenant colonel. As reorganized units were assigned to the RCT, Sparks was assigned to command of its 1st Battalion. In May 1950, Sparks completed the course at the United States Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. After completing his tour as commander of 1st Battalion, Sparks served for several years on the staff at the Colorado National Guard's state headquarters. In August 1959 he was assigned to command the 169th Field Artillery Group. Sparks was a colonel in October 1961 when his command was called to active duty as part of the U.S. response to the Berlin Crisis of 1961. Sparks served on active duty at Fort Sill, Oklahoma until August 1962, then returned to his position with the state water conservation board. In August 1968, Sparks completed the updated Command and General Staff College course at Fort Leavenworth. He was then promoted to brigadier general and assigned as Colorado's assistant adjutant general for army and commander of the Colorado Army National Guard. ==Awards==

Sparks was a recipient of two awards of the Silver Star for heroism, as well as two awards of the Purple Heart. In addition, Sparks received the Croix de Guerre from the government of France. He received the Silver Star for heroism during combat in Italy in February 1944 while he was commander of Company E, 2nd Battalion, 157th Infantry. The citation for his first Silver Star read: ==Dachau liberation==

In September 1956, news of a planned reunion of 3rd Battalion, 157th Infantry Regiment scheduled for Denver in October included details of Sparks's role in the liberation of the Dachau concentration camp. On April 29, 1945, units of 3rd Battalion, 157th Infantry Regiment, commanded by Sparks, were ordered to secure the Dachau camp; he led his troops as they entered the camp over a side wall. to accept the formal surrender of the camp from German Lieutenant Heinrich Wicker. Linden was traveling with Marguerite Higgins and other reporters, and as a result, Linden's detachment generated international headlines by accepting the surrender of the camp. More than 30,000 Jews and political prisoners were freed. Since 1945, adherents of the 42nd and 45th Division versions of events have argued over which unit was the first to liberate Dachau. ==Death and burial==

Sparks died of pneumonia at St. Anthony Central Hospital in Denver, Colorado, on September 25, 2007. He was buried at Crown Hill Cemetery in Wheat Ridge, Colorado. ==Family==

In 1941, Sparks married Mary Blair. They were the parents of four children. ==Legacy==

Sparks' wartime experiences were the subject of a 2020 Netflix miniseries, The Liberator. Sparks's role in the Dachau liberation is also the subject of Alex Kershaw's book The Liberator, upon which the miniseries is based. In 2008, the United States Post Office at 10799 West Alameda Avenue in Lakewood, Colorado was named in Sparks' honor. ==See also==

• Beuchner, Emajean Jordan (1991). Sparks. Metairie, LA: Thunderbird Press, Inc. ==External links==