Oral History Interview with Earle Soper, September 3, 2004 Page: 3
View a full description of this text.
Related Items
Other items on this site that are directly related to the current text.
Oral History Interview with Earle Soper, September 3, 2004 (Sound)
The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Earle Soper. Soper was born in Beverly, Massachusetts on 6 March 1928. After graduating from high school in 1945, he joined the Marine Corps. After completion of training at Parris Island, South Carolina, he boarded the USS Starlight (AP-175) bound for China. Upon arriving at Tangkou, China, he joined the 1st Marine Division, 5th Marines. There, the unit guarded coal stations and oil facilities as well as their ammunition depot. He tells of the efforts of Chinese communist forces to take over or destroy bridges used by the Chinese Nationalist forces and the measures taken by the Marines to protect these locations. In addition to the guard details, the Marines also rounded up Japanese troops to be sent back to Japan. Soper comments that the Japanese looked upon the Marines as protectors. The Japanese feared that if afforded the opportunity, the Chinese civilians would have killed them because of past atrocities by Japanese troops. Soper returned to the United States in December 1946 and was discharged shortly thereafter.
Reference the current page of this Text.
Oral History Interview with Earle Soper, September 3, 2004, text, September 3, 2004; Fredericksburg, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1604600/m1/3/: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation.