Email - jdsponaugle@bellsouth.net
Early Chiildhood- I was born in Leavenworth, Kansas . My mother was Dorothy Pauline Lawrence and my dad was Ralph Fredrick Sponaugle. They had 3 children, Ralph Fredrick Sponaugle, Dorothy Irene Sponaugle, and myself. I went to Saint Theresa's Catholic School in Fort Riley, Kansas. We then moved back to Missouri. When I was 9 my older sister, Dorothy Irene died. From 12 to 16 years old I worked in a truck garden farm in the summers. When I was 16- 18 years old 1 I worked full time in the Pioneer Bag Company we made cabbage and sand bags for the Government. When I ws 18 I got drafted for the Vietnam War.
Vietnam years - I did basic training in Fort Leonardwood Missouri. Then I went to Fort Campbell Kentucky for Advanced Individual Training. From there to Vietnam. I was there almost a year, when I got wounded November 24th, 1969 on the Cambodian border. I was then sent to a hospital in Saigon and was in a coma for an undetermined amount of time . From there I was sent to Japan. After Japan I was sent to San Diego, California. Then to Denver, Colorado, to a hospital. I was sent home in 1971, approximately 1 1/2 years after I was wounded.
Early Adulthood - I went to Maplewoods Community College in Clay County Missouri where I studied general business and received and achievement scholarship award. I went to Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, Missouri where I received a B.S. in Art History and minored in Psychology from 1974- 1976. I worked on my Graduate degree at Northwest Missouri State University. When I graduated, I went to work for Bedford, Iowa teaching high school art. I was married July 13th, 1973 to Helga Karolina Krapp (1951-2013 RIP) . We had 4 children. I went from Bedford, Iowa to Conception Junction, Missouri where I taught art and was a councilor. Then I went to Fort Gordon, Ga to have back surgery , from my wounds in Vietnam. I then taught school in Charleston, SC until 1994.
Later Adult Life - I came to Asheville, NC around 1994 and retired in 1997 due to my disabilities.
Vietnam years - I did basic training in Fort Leonardwood Missouri. Then I went to Fort Campbell Kentucky for Advanced Individual Training. From there to Vietnam. I was there almost a year, when I got wounded November 24th, 1969 on the Cambodian border. I was then sent to a hospital in Saigon and was in a coma for an undetermined amount of time . From there I was sent to Japan. After Japan I was sent to San Diego, California. Then to Denver, Colorado, to a hospital. I was sent home in 1971, approximately 1 1/2 years after I was wounded.
Early Adulthood - I went to Maplewoods Community College in Clay County Missouri where I studied general business and received and achievement scholarship award. I went to Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, Missouri where I received a B.S. in Art History and minored in Psychology from 1974- 1976. I worked on my Graduate degree at Northwest Missouri State University. When I graduated, I went to work for Bedford, Iowa teaching high school art. I was married July 13th, 1973 to Helga Karolina Krapp (1951-2013 RIP) . We had 4 children. I went from Bedford, Iowa to Conception Junction, Missouri where I taught art and was a councilor. Then I went to Fort Gordon, Ga to have back surgery , from my wounds in Vietnam. I then taught school in Charleston, SC until 1994.
Later Adult Life - I came to Asheville, NC around 1994 and retired in 1997 due to my disabilities.