AMERICAN BATTLE MONUMENTS COMMISSION

Douglas M. Soroka

Lance Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps

2283983

L Company
3rd Battalion
1st Marines
1st Marine Division

Entered the Service from: New Jersey
Died: January 28, 1968
Buried at: Section W Site 136
                  Beverly National Cemetery
                  916 Bridgeboro Road
                  Beverly, NJ 08010

Awards: Purple Heart

DOUGLAS MARTIN SOROTA was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on August 4, 1948, to Mr. and Mrs. Demetrio Soroko. In 1962, the Soroka family moved from Philadelphia to Blackwood, NJ. His home of record is Blackwood. He had two younger siblings, Ronald and Barbara. Douglas graduated from Triton High School in Runnemede, NJ, in 1966.

Douglas M. Soroka served in the US Marine Corps and attained the rank of Lance Corporal. His tour of duty began on March 6, 1967. While in Vietnam he served with L Company, 3rd Battalion,1st Marine Regiment,1st Marine Division.

Lance Corporal Soroka was killed in action on January 28, 1968 while his company was taking part in Operation Badger Catch. He was returned to the United States and was buried at Beverly National Cemetery on February 12, 1968. Douglas M. Soroka was survived by his parents, and his brother and sister.

Philadelphia Inquirer - January 31, 1968

Two Marines Killed In Action In Viet War

Two area Marines who enlisted immediately after graduation from high school have been killed in action in Vietnam. Marine Lance Cpl. Douglas M. Soroka, 19, of 14 Barbara Lane, Blackwood, N.J., was scheduled to come home from Vietnam in February. He died of burns and shell fragment wounds. Cpl. Soroka, son of Mr. and Mrs. Demetrio Soroka, enlisted in the Marines upon graduation in 1966 from Triton High School, Runnemede, N.J. He was sent to Vietnam with his infantry unit in October, 1966. Besides his parents, he is survived by a brother, Ronald, 17, and a sister, Barbara, 9. The family moved to the Liberty Park section of Blackwood six years ago from Philadelphia.

The other Marine mentioned in the article was Corporal William D. Hart of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.