Soraruf, James Anthony

Title: Soraruf, James Anthony
Performer: James Anthony Soraruf
Interviewer: Jennifer Burchill
Description: James was born in Ironwood, Michigan, on May 17, 1924. After graduating from high school, he tried to enlist in the Marines but was told to wait for the draft. He took a job as a tool and dye apprentice in the De Sota plant. He was drafted into the Marines in early 1943. After several difficult boot camp experiences, he was finally sent for training as a mechanic. After months of training, he was assigned to a B25 unit patrolling the East Coast, after which he was sent to the South Pacific. There he participated as a mechanic on several missions. When the war ended, he was eventually discharged and returned to Michigan. He could not get his job back at De Sota but did get a tool and dye job at Kaiser and then Republic Tool and Dye. James lives in Ypsilanti, Michigan and has eleven children.
Date Span: Dates of Service
Subject: Enlisted; United States Marine Corps; 1st Marine Air Wing; World War, 1939-1945; Second World War - Pacific Theater; Corporal
Publisher: Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress; Center for Oral History Research at Eastern Michigan University; Center for Oral History Research at Eastern Michigan University
Collection Location: 4/15; https://memory.loc.gov/diglib/vhp/bib/loc.natlib.afc2001001.70455
Spatial Coverage: Second World War - Pacific Theater