Harry (Aristides) G. Soteras Harry Soteras served in the 25th Infantry Division. He rose to the rank of battalion sergeant major. He received two Bronze Stars, a Philippine Liberation Medal, and the Asiatic Pacific Service Medal. He participated in the invasion of Luzon where there were many casualties. He served in the Intelligence Corp. His second Bronze Star was earned when he took command of his platoon after the patrol leader was killed, and he got his patrol back to safety. Harry's family tells the following story: 'About 20 to 25 years ago, a Mr. Browning called, and I invited him to come to dinner with his wife and two children. He started sobbing and hugging Harry and thanking him for going down a ravine under heavy fire to carry him out as he had been shot. He told his wife and children Harry had saved his life as our forces were waiting to start bombing the enemy as they were advancing on our troops. I had never heard this story as Harry never talked about the war. Browning was passing through and took a chance on calling us. We were so glad they did. I am sure you will hear many stories like this one from the veterans who still survive. Most are gone, but Harry was 19 years old when he went in. and the boys who were 25 and 30 have passed on.' A newspaper article highlighted Harry's ability to play chess. By pushing the chessmen around the board, Harry developed himself for mental activities against the Japanese. Pfc Soteras claimed that chess playing sharpened his wits for duties in his intelligence and reconnaissance platoon. An article in the Ogden Standard-Examiner told the story of how a game of poker saved Technical Sergeant Soteras' life. 'One evening during the 25th Division's bitter fight for northern Luzon, Sergeant Soteras and three buddies from the 161st infantry sat around a blackened tree stump playing poker. The game, a small one, held little interest for the sergeant. Besides, he was due to stand guard that night in a nearby foxhole and wanted to get there before dark. He rose, picked up his carbine, and made ready to leave. One of the players protested, asking him to play one 'positively final' hand. 'Then we'll all quit,' he explained. The sergeant sat down again and the cards were dealt around. The hand ended in a matter of three minutes and Soteras lit a cigarette preparatory to leaving. But as he started off, all hell began to break loose. Jap artillery was throwing in a heavy barrage from a neighboring hill and the players scattered wildly, ducking behind logs or any other safety spot that offered. For an hour the sergeant lay motionless, mentally kicking himself for not hitting his foxhole when he could have. Then, as suddenly as it had begun, the shelling stopped. Thirty minutes late for duty and scared half to death, Soteras finally reached his post. What he saw sent chill fingers along his spine. The hole was still there, and in good condition-only it was no longer a foxhole. While the sweating Soteras was yearning for its 'protection' a Japanese howitzer shell, in a direct hit, had made it big enough for four men. Harry's citation for a Bronze Star for Meritorious Achievement reads in part: 'Technical Sergeant Aristides G. Soteras, for meritorious achievement in connection with operations against the Japanese forces on Luzon, Philippine Islands. During the battle for San Manuel, Soteras, who at that time was a corporal in the intelligence and reconnaissance platoon made numerous patrols and brought back valuable information as to the number of enemy tanks and their disposition in the town. Later he engaged patrolling deep into enemy territory always returning with information of great value to the battalion commander in formulating decisions. On 29 March he participated in a patrol that was ambushed by the enemy and lost six men killed and eight wounded. By his personal bravery and fearless leadership Technical Sergeant Soteras rallied the remaining men, designated a force to lay down covering fire while the wounded were dragged out and saved the patrol from complete disaster. Although not wounded personally he had three bullet holes in his jacket as mute witness to his dangerous and heroic action. In recognition of this exceptional performance he was promoted to staff sergeant and in June 1945 he was made battalion sergeant major, a job that he handled with superior results. Technical Sergeant 122 Soteras' leadership and fine soldierly qualities reflect great credit upon himself and the military service.' Frank A. Stanger I went on active duty, 13 August 1943 after being inducted at Fort Douglas, Utah. I was sent to Camp Callan, California and was assigned to Battery 'B' 54th M Training Battalion. I took my basic training there and was trained to be an operator on a 40mm gun. After my basic training I went to Compton Jr. College to test for entering the ASTP program. I had had a year of college, at Weber Jr. College, and I didn't want to continue going to school so I didn't finish my tests. I was sent to Camp Rogers, California, for reassignment. I spent one month there and then I was sent to Camp Haan, California, where I was trained, as a radar operator, in the 118 AAA Gun Battalion (mobile). I was trained at Camp Haan and Camp Irwin in the Mojave Desert. After our battalion's final training, I was given a 30-day leave before leaving the United States. In November we received our orders for overseas shipment. We left Camp Haan for Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, 3 December 1943. We sailed to England on the Queen Mary, 23 December 1943. We arrived in Gourock, Scotland, 29 December 1943. We arrived at our base camp, near Nettlebed, England, 31 December 1943. I stood guard that night and heard the church bells in the village ring in the 1944 New Year. We trained in Nettlebed, Wales, for the invasion of France, until early June. We left Nettlebed and went to the marshalling area at Ramsey, England. On June 6 we went to the docks at Southampton. While waiting to board our ship we heard about the invasion of France. My most memorable event was the night I spent on the Liberty ship before I landed on the beachhead on Omaha beach. There were hundreds of ships, loaded with troops and equipment, waiting to land on the beach. We arrived at dusk, but we had to wait until late the next day before it was our turn to land. During the night we were attacked by many German planes. They strafed and bombed the armada of ships all night. We fought back with 50 caliber machine guns, 40 mm anti-artillery and 90 mm anti-artillery guns. It looked like the greatest 4th of July fireworks ever. The sky was filled with white 50 caliber and red 40mm tracer bullets and blasts from the 90mm guns. Our battalion was attached to V Corps, First U.S. Army, 49th AAA Brigade for the initial phase of the invasion of France. After our exciting night, off the Omaha beachhead, we landed on the beach late the following day. The next day we went inland, a short distance and set up our battery to help protect the troops and equipment landing on the beachhead. After Cherbourg, France, was taken by our troops, we moved close to Cherbourg on 13 July to protect Cherbourg from bombing by the German bombers. During our stay near the beachhead and Cherbourg we were successful in shooting down several planes. On September 2, we went to Granville, France, to protect SHAEF Headquarters. (Supreme Headquarters, Allied Expeditionary Force). On October 6, we went to Le Havre, France, to take over the M defenses of the Port from the British. On November 25, we went to Paris where our Battalion set up AAA defenses around the city. We stayed there until December 5. While I was there I was able to see several famous places. Our next move was to Verdun, France, where we guarded the Third Army petroleum supply area. During the 'Battle of the Bulge' our battalion was able to stop the German Air Force from destroying the petroleum supply. We had our greatest success in destroying many German planes. We left Verdun, March 2, 1945 for Maastricht, Holland. Our job was to guard the staging area for the troops who were getting ready to invade Germany. We were relieved of our combat status and reassigned to guard German prisoners. We left Maastricht, April 10, and went to camps in Stenay, France; Mons, Belgium; and Namur, Belgium. Our duties were to guard prisoners and transport French collaborators to French prisons. I was transferred to the 341st Field Artillery Battalion to return home. I was discharged, December 25, 1945, at Fort Douglas, Utah. 123