[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 191 (Thursday, December 8, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1239]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING U.S. NAVY AND MISSISSIPPI ARMY NATIONAL GUARD VETERAN JIMMY 
                                 SPARKS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TRENT KELLY

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 8, 2022

  Mr. KELLY of Mississippi. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize 
the service of U.S. Navy and Mississippi Army National Guard Veteran 
Jimmy Sparks. Throughout his long and distinguished career in the 
military, Mr. Sparks devoted himself to serve our great Nation. 
Additionally, he is an outstanding volunteer driver for Lee County 
Veterans Services. He embodies all the characteristics that make us 
proud to be Americans.
  On October 3, 1944, Mr. Sparks was born in Iuka. He was one of seven 
children who picked cotton to help support their family, who were 
sharecroppers. Eventually, the family moved to West Memphis, Arkansas, 
and Saltillo, Mississippi.
  In 1963, Mr. Sparks embarked on a new adventure by enlisting in the 
U.S. Navy. He was assigned to the USS Midway (CVA-41), an aircraft 
carrier. The second aircraft carrier was the USS Coral Sea (CVA-43). 
Mr. Sparks was assigned to the fighter squadron on both aircraft 
carriers, serving as an aviation storekeeper. He said the first North 
Vietnamese MiG-17 to be shot down during the Vietnam War was by the 
Phantoms of Fighter Squadron 21 from the USS Midway carrier--on June 
17, 1965.
  In 1967, Mr. Sparks completed active duty and entered the U.S. Navy 
Reserve for one year. In 1974, Mr. Sparks joined the Mississippi Army 
National Guard, where he served with the 123rd Medivac. During his time 
with the Guard, his duties included maintaining armor and supply, 
driving a fuel truck, and motor maintenance. He retired as an E-7. Mr. 
Sparks served 31 years in the Mississippi Army National Guard. In later 
years, the 123rd Medivac changed to the 185th Aviation Battalion.
  While serving in the Guard, Mr. Sparks worked for 21 years for Cooper 
Tire. In 2006, he retired. In 2007, Mr. Sparks learned there was a need 
for a driver to support services offered by the Lee County Veterans 
Services Officer. Soon thereafter, he became a volunteer driver. He was 
one of several volunteer drivers during that time who drove Veterans 1-
3 times a week to the Memphis VA Medical Center.
  Mr. Sparks has been recognized numerous times for his community 
service. In 2010, Mr. Sparks was recognized by the Lee County Board of 
Supervisors for his outstanding service for giving back to Veterans for 
what they have given to America. In 2015, Mr. Sparks received the 
``President's Lifetime Achievement Award'' for his volunteer work. In 
2020, Mr. Sparks was recognized by the U.S. Department of Veterans 
Affairs as the Memphis VA Medical Center Voluntary Services ``2019-2020 
Volunteer Driver of the Year''.
  To date, Mr. Sparks has devoted 7,500 hours to his fellow Veterans. 
He drives approximately 160 Veterans to and from Memphis over one year. 
Mr. Sparks has logged approximately 200,000 miles during his fifteen 
years of driving to the VA.
  We are thankful for Mr. Sparks' service to America and for his 
steadfast devotion to the ensure Veterans have access to medical 
services. These men and women have earned and deserve the best 
available care. We wish the continued success of Mr. Sparks' volunteer 
work. Additionally, we want to recognize his wife, Nancy, and their 
children: Rusty Sparks (Beverly) and Jennifer (Terry) Merrell. Mr. and 
Mrs. Sparks have four grandchildren: Grace Sparks, Brenden Sparks, Kade 
(Cheyenne) Merrell, and Shelby (Marcus) Gray. The Lee County Sheriffs 
Department is commended for allowing the Lee County Veterans Services 
van to be safely parked and monitored at their Tupelo facility.

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