"All he wanted to do was fight for his country," recalled Spear's mother. The 19-year-old specialist four was a 1966 graduate of Cardinal Dougherty High School and worked as a purchasing agent at Nanette Manufacturing Co. before joining the Army in October 1967. The ammunition bearer was assigned to Company D of the 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division, in Vietnam. Spear died near Saigon on Oct. 5, 1968, and was posthumously awarded the Silver Star. Survivors included his parents. two brothers and two sisters.