Lance Cpl. James W. Clark
Capt. Ryan Sparks during an offensive last February to root out Taliban from their stronghold in Marjah, Helmand Province, Afghanistan. The offensive was the largest in the Afghan war.
WASHINGTON – A company commander from last year’s bloody and protracted battle of Marjah was recognized this week with a trophy presented to one Marine captain each year for courage and outstanding leadership in combat.
Capt. Ryan Sparks, a 36 year-old veteran of four combat deployments, led his men into the largest coalition offensive in the decade-long Afghanistan war last February with what was a clearly defined opening mission. “There’s 100 bad guys in this objective, we’re the United States Marine Corps, we’re going to go in and get rid of the bad guys,” Sparks said.
Sparks was rewarded for his leadership during the intense Operation Moshtarak and subsequent counterinsurgency campaign with the 32nd annual Leftwich Trophy. The trophy is named for Lt. Col. William G. Leftwich Jr., a recipient of numerous awards including the Navy Cross, Silver Star, and Purple Heart. Leftwich Jr. was killed in combat during the Vietnam War.
“The greatest thing about it (the award) is the fact that the company was recognized,” said Sparks, the company commander of Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division.
He praised his Marines for making the difficult transition to counterinsurgency after the initial helicopter-borne assault into the heart of the poppy-growing mecca of Marjah in Helmand Province. “It was just incredible to watch these 22-year-old men out there dealing with problems that most people can’t fathom while their lives are in danger with a huge IED problem all around them,” Sparks said.
The coalition of Marines, NATO and Afghan forces had the complex task of holding the city and trying to win over a reluctant population while facing constant threats from improvised explosive devices and a persistent Taliban presence. “We have to win the people,” Sparks said. “Treat the enemy like the terrain. It’s there, deal with it on the day-to-day basis.”
Sparks and the men of Bravo Company were featured in an HBO film, the Battle for Marjah, released this year.
His commanding officer, Lt. Col. George S. Benson, said in an email that his battalion was immensely proud of Sparks for his ability to strike a balance between strength and humility. “In a business that requires extremes in teamwork and brotherhood, it is always humbling to be singled out,” Benson said.
“He was the right choice.”
A successful counterinsurgency mission depends on Marines understanding the “why” behind complexities like rules of engagement and how to interact with the locals, said Sparks. He used stories and analogies to put into perspective for his unit what it means to be an Afghan, using the example of a 60-year-old farmer. “His entire life savings is three cows in this compound and a couple fields that he’s got. If you accidentally kill one of those cows, that is a huge impact on his life,” Sparks said he would tell his Marines.
“Not only does that impact his life, but you were just in a fight with his nephew, or his best friend’s kid or whatever. It helps them understand exactly what the dynamics are.” Sparks said understanding these complex situations takes constant communication.
While the Marjah campaign ended up lasting through most of 2010, Sparks said his men “set the foundation” for success there. He said organizing reconstruction projects, training Afghan police and incorporating village elders into the political process was especially rewarding.
Sparks is no stranger to facing an entrenched insurgent force. He served in Fallujah, Iraq, in 2004.
He and his wife, Elizabeth, have two young children and are based in Camp Lejeune, N.C. Sparks, a Marine since 1998, credited his wife for giving him strength throughout his years of service.
He is set for his sixth deployment sometime this summer.