MG Archibald Alexander Sproul

MG Archibald Alexander Sproul was born 13 Nov 1915 near Middlebrook, Virginia at the old family home of Locust Grove. He was the 5th of parents William White and Katherine Rutherford (Lapsley) White's 6 children. His father farmed and then ran a general store. The family home at Moffet's Creek was valued at $10,000 in 1940 and "Arch" graduated from Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia had begun working as a clerk for the unemployement office earning a reported 1939 income of $1500.

Arch enlisted in the Virginia National Guard in 1940 and was mobilized with the unit on 3 Feb 1941 and he was promoted to 2LT at the same time. He was promoted to 1LT on 28 Aug 1941 and to CPT on 18 Sep 1942. Presumably he was also assigned as Commander of I Company 116th Infantry at that time. CPT Sproul commanded I Company on 6 Jun 1944, D-Day and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions on that day. The citation reads:

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Captain (Infantry) Archibald Sproul (ASN: 0-406823), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Commanding Officer, Headquarters Company, 116th Infantry Regiment, 29th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces on 6 June 1944, at Normandy, France. At a time when his battalion was pinned down on the beach due to the heavy enemy rifle, machine gun and artillery fire, Captain Sproul, with complete disregard for his own safety, exposed himself on numerous occasions in encouraging and organizing the hard-pressed troops. His fearlessness in leading the men across the fire-swept beach materially contributed in converting the disorganized troops into a strong attacking force. Captain Sproul's gallant leadership, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 29th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.

Over the course of war CPT Sproul would be wounded 3 times and also be awarded the Bronze Star medal. During one of his hospitalizations he met a young English woman and after the war CPT Sproul returned home and began a new life, marrying Margaret Hannah Pratt on 9 May 1946. The couple would have 3 children. He was promoted to MAJ on 29 Nov 1946 and to LTC on 20 Oct 1948. He worked for over 20 years in the insurance business as a co-owner of W. J. Perry Corporation and he founded Virginia International, a trading company specializing in oil development in Indonesia in the early1970's. He also returned to service with the Army National Guard. He assumed command of the 116th Infantry Regiment in 1952 and kept that position for 7 years. In 1960 he moved to the position of Assistant Commander of the 29th Division and later Commander of the division.

General Sproul actively participated in many community and charitable services. He served on the Trinity Church Vestry, the Washington and Lee Alumni Board of Trustees, the YMCA Board of Directors, the Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center Board of Trustees, the Virginia Military Institute Board of Visitors, and was one of the original members of the Historic Staunton Foundation. He was also one of the founders of the Frontier Culture Museum and he served as president of the Museum Foundation as well as a member of the Board of Trustees.

MG Sproul died on 2 Jul 2005 and was interred in Thornrose Cemetery in Staunton, Virginia.

Great, Great-grandfather Ezra Pratt served as a PVT in the American Revolution in CPT Aaron Stevens Company of COL Samuel Motts Battalion of Connecticut State Troops Jun-Nov 1776 in the Ticonderoga Campaign.Grandfather James Wood Lapsley served as a LT in E Company 51st Alabama Cavalry (CSA).