CITY OF STAMFORD CITIZEN OF THE YEAR

For over twenty years, James Sparrow was the Executive Director of Vietnam Veterans Agent Orange Victims, Inc., the non-profit national organization that filed the original lawsuit against the chemical companies that manufactured the defoliant, Agent Orange.  The organization he helped found went on to assist tens of thousands of veterans and their families.

Mr. Sparrow was born March 3, 1947 and raised in Stamford, Connecticut.  He is a 1965 graduate of Stamford High School.  After graduation, he immediately joined the United States Marine Corps for a four-year enlistment as an 0311 rifleman.  He served with the Second Marine Division in the Caribbean and Latin America, and also with NATO Forces in Norway.  He graduated from the United States Army School of the Americas for Jungle Warfare in Panama, and shipped out for Vietnam.  Mr. Sparrow served in Vietnam from December 1966 to January 1968 with the First Marine Provisional Rifle Company and had the honor of serving in units of the 1stand 3rd Marine Divisions and the 1st Marine Air Wing. His duties included patrols and ambushes, medivacs and resupply missions.  For his military service he was awarded the Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Medal, the Expert Rifle Badge, 2 Naval Unit Citations, and 2 Presidential Unit Citations.

Mr. Sparrow has been involved in veteran’s affairs most of his adult life, on a local, state and national basis.  He is Past Commander of VFW Post 10013, Stamford; Past Commander of American Legion Post 3, Stamford; Past Commander of VFW Post 6933, Darien.  On Veterans Day, 1996, he was the recipient of the prestigious Connecticut State Veterans Commendation Medal for a lifetime of work with veterans and their families.

He is now retired, but stays active in the veteran community.  He lives in Stamford with his wife and their extended family--his daughter and her husband, their two granddaughters and great grandsons.