Vernice J. Sporrer

Korean War

Vernice “Sprig” Sporrer was born on October 19, 1931, at Carroll, IA to Frank X. and Clara (Kemper) Sporrer. He attended school in Templeton and graduated with the Sacred Heart High School class of 1949. Sprig’s father died in 1947 and Sprig worked on the family farm until 1953.

On February 2, 1953, Sprig was transported from the Burke Hotel in Carroll to Omaha, NE with 15 other Carroll County men. There, they were inducted into the US Army. Sprig was assigned serial number 55 327 335. He was then sent to Camp Chaffee, AR for basic training. He was a part of Company B, 47th Battalion of the 5th Armored Division. He completed basic training at Camp Chaffee as well as advanced training as a cannoneer.

By August, 1953, his training was complete and he was sent to Europe to join the Army of Occupation which was still in operation as a result of World War II. He was assigned to Battery A, 70th Field Artillery Battalion of the 2nd ACR (Armored Cavalry Regiment) and was stationed at Nuremberg, Germany. This unit was responsible for patrol and security of the middle section of the Army of Occupation. They covered part of the border between East and West Germany as well as a section of the German border with Czechoslovakia. This was a difficult time as Cold War tensions were increasing.

Sprig stayed with the unit for 19 months before returning to the United States in early 1955. He was discharged with the rank of Corporal on February 1, 1955, at Fort Sheridan, IL. He returned to the family farm southeast of Templeton.

On January 8, 1957, Sprig was married to Alma Tunning at St. Joseph Church in Dedham. Tragically, Alma and their unborn child died of illness on November 5, 1957. Sprig married Evelyn Tunning on May 16, 1959, at St. Joseph Church in Sioux Rapids, IA. They farmed the home place until moving into Templeton in 1994. Sprig died on November 17, 2013, in Manning, IA at age 82. He was buried in Sacred Heart Cemetery in Templeton.