Eulogio “Lefty” Soto

Eulogio “Lefty” Soto tried to volunteer for the Army after Pearl Harbor, but was turned away because he was too young.  He was drafted for service in the Army in 1943 and was shipped out to New Guinea.  From there his unit was sent to the Philippines where they spent six months fighting the Japanese.  Soto then was stationed in Kyoto as a member of the Army of Occupation after the Japanese surrender.  He witnessed the destruction in Kyoto after repeated bombing by the United States.  For his service Soto was awarded the Bronze Star.