David H. Spero

David Herman Spero, a U.S. Navy Veteran of World War II, Pacific Campaign, was born October 15, 1925, Brooklyn, N.Y. to Nettie (Rawsky) Spero and William Spero. After U.S. entry into WWII, David, following his father’s example of enlisting in World War I with the 26th Engineers and fighting the Germans in France for two years, enlisted and was assigned LST (Landing Ship Tank) duty to ferry U.S. Marines, equipment and supplies on amphibious assaults against Japanese-occupied islands in the Pacific. These amphibious assaults were conducted under hostile Japanese fire. David also saw action at the Battles of Leyte, Coral Sea, and Philippines. David was present and watched General Douglas MacArthur wade ashore in the Philippines, making good his “I shall return” promise. David’s four brothers, Mort, Arthur, Harold and Joel were also simultaneously serving in the military participating in the European campaign with: Joel having been wounded as a Flying Fortress gunner over occupied Europe; Mort having been part of the African, Italian, and Normandy D-Day invasions; Harold serving as a paratrooper in Africa and Europe and Arthur serving Coast Guard duty defending against German submarines. All five brothers survived the war and David reenlisted in the Navy. After the Korean War, David was assigned duty at the Olathe Naval Air Station, outside Kansas City, where he met his future wife Delores Joan Hurley. They married on April 3, 1954 and had four children: Norman, Linda (Erny), Michael and Teresa (Heit). David settled in the Highland Crest section of Kansas City Kansas and went to work for the U.S. Postal Service in Argentine where he retired after working into his late seventies. David was past president of Branch 499, National Association of Letter Carriers and past Kansas State President of the letter carriers association. David was active in local Democratic politics as a Wyandotte County Silver-Haired Legislator and ward / precinct chair of his neighborhood. He had routinely been elected a delegate to Democratic National Conventions. David was generous with his time and coached numerous neighborhood youth baseball and football teams and raised money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Besides Joan, his spouse, and four children, there are thirteen grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, and one great great grandchild. David will be interred at the VA National Cemetery at Leavenworth, Kansas.

Tributes

David H. Spero

October 15, 1925 - September 24, 2022