Marine memorabilia in his home office on Thursday. Sponcey is a retired U.S. Marine sergeant major who served for 26 years. He will be the grand marshal for today's Sierra Vista Veterans Day Parade. (Mark Levy-Herald/Review)
Posted on 11/11/2005 11:24:00 AM PST by SandRat
SIERRA VISTA — A decorated Marine veteran of the Korean and Vietnamese wars will ride down Fry Boulevard today as grand marshal of this year’s Sierra Vista Veterans Day Parade.
Norman Francis Sponcey called his selection to take part in the parade “a great honor and privilege.”
The retired Marine sergeant major was selected by Sierra Vista Mayor Thomas Hessler from a number of nominees.
“I honestly have no idea why I was selected,” the 77-year-old Sponcey said. “I’m honored to represent all veterans of all the services.”
There is a saying that once a Marine always a Marine.
Sponcey’s home and vehicles reflect that saying.
A small office full of Marine memorabilia is inside the comfortable home that he shares with his wife, Gayle.
Various small bulldog sculptures in various Marine garb and poses line bookshelves and the top of his desk. The bulldog is the Corps’ mascot.
License plates on his vehicles have Marine Corps insignia on them. A metal bulldog greets people as they walk to the front door of the house. A metal globe and anchor is by the door.
He moved to Sierra Vista in 1988 with his first wife, Cleo, who died in 2003 after 34 years of marriage.
Gayle admits to not knowing anything about the military. She said her husband has tried to put her through a mini boot camp to help her become a Marine.
But friends of the couple call her the general, telling her husband he’s just a sergeant major. With a laugh, he said he knows he will never outrank his wife.
Sponcey first came to Sierra Vista to visit his son in the Army. Two other sons joined the Army, too. Sponcey said their reason for not enlisting in the Marines is that they already had a full life as a Marine through him.
Five of his grandsons enlisted in the Marines, of which four of them are still serving in the Corps.
Sierra Vista drew the 25-year Marine veteran.
“We liked it right away,” he said.
After retiring from the Marines, he went to work for the city government in Vista, Calif., finally retiring from that community as the waste water supervisor.
With his move to Sierra Vista, Sponcey said, “I completely retired.”
Getting to the stage of being fully retired started in 1947, when he enlisted in the Marines after graduating from Putnam High School in Connecticut.
Boot camp was at Parris Island, where after completing the tough Marine initial course, he became an assistant drill instructor and was ordered to play football for Parris Island Marines until 1950.
The Korean War ended his military football career, as he and others headed for the troubled peninsula.
Sponcey is a survivor of the battle at the Chosin Reservoir, one of the Frozen Chosin Few.
Like many American forces, his unit was surrounded by the communist forces. But his unit broke out of the encirclement.
He would spend three combat tours in Vietnam. His Vietnamese service included serving as an adviser to the South Vietnamese Army.
His combat exploits led to him being decorated with a number of decorations for valor, including three Bronze Star Medals.
Tonight, Sponcey will attend the annual Marine Corps Ball on Fort Huachuca. The Marines were formed on Nov. 10, 1775.
As a young Leatherneck at his first Marine ball nearly six decades ago, he learned the importance of camaraderie. “At my fist Marine ball, I felt out of place,” he said.
That was until an older Marine approached him and brought him over to a group of Marines who had served in World War II.
“They brought me into their conversation,” Sponcey said. “I sure listened.”
As a Marine, he is particularly proud that the first Marine has been named the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff.
No one ever thought a Marine such as Gen. Peter Pace would be appointed to the top military job, he said.
When he enlisted, the highest rank for a Marine officer was lieutenant general. When it was decided to create a four-star position, Sponcey said that was major coup.
He said he heard about Pace when as a young officer the Marine general served as a platoon leader in Vietnam.
With Pace’s promotion to the top uniform job in the nation, Sponcey said of the Marines, “We’ve come a log way.”
As for his selection to be the parade grand marshal, he said he is the second Marine enlisted person to be honored. Last year, retired Marine Master Sgt. Jack Davis was the marshal.
Sponcey said having a Marine chosen makes the “honor even greater” in that Sierra Vista is an Army town.
HERALD/REVIEW senor reporter Bill Hess can be reached at 515-4615.
Always a Marine! Always a Vet! Always a Patriot!
Oohrah ping!
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