Joseph Soppe

World War I

Joseph Soppe was born on April 26, 1891, near Halbur, IA to Anton and Elizabeth (Siegaline) Soppe. Both Anton and Elizabeth were German immigrants. Joseph was in the middle of their fourteen children. The family moved to a farm southeast of Templeton in 1893. Prior to World War I, Joseph became the primary operator of the farm when his parents moved into Templeton.

Joseph was inducted into the US Army on February 26, 1918. He was assigned serial number 2152432. He was sent to Camp Dodge near Des Moines along with approximately 80 other Carroll County boys. He was assigned to Company L, 349th Infantry Regiment of the 88th Infantry Division. After initial training at Camp Dodge, he was reassigned to Company G, 130th Infantry Regiment of the 33rd Infantry Division based at Camp Logan, IL.

By May, 1918, Joseph and his unit were deemed ready for transit to Europe and they moved to Hoboken, NJ. On May 16, 1918, they boarded the “Agamemnon” and set sail arriving in France by the end of May. On June 20th and 21st, the 33rd Division went to the Amiens sector for training by the British Army and participated in some enemy actions. Similar action occurred at the Battle of Hamel on July 4, 1918. By early August, the 33rd Division was in reserve behind the British Fourth Army.

On August 23, 1918, Joseph and his unit were moved to the Toul sector and fought in the Meuse-Argonne Campaign from September 26 to November 10, 1918. The Armistice was declared the next day. Their actions resulted in the capture of hundreds of enemy weapons as well as significant advances into enemy lines. Their service was rewarded with numerous decorations.

After limited occupation duty, the 130th Infantry was moved to St. Nazaire, France where they boarded the “Finland” on January 31, 1919. The unit sailed to the US arriving in Hoboken, NJ on February 14, 1919. Processing back to the US was conducted at Camp Merritt, NJ and Joseph was discharged on February 25, 1919.

Joseph returned to the farm southeast of Templeton. On November 28, 1922, Joseph and Anna Hoffman were married in Roselle. Anna died on March 6, 1926, three weeks after giving birth to their second child. Joseph continued to operate the farm for the remainder of his life. He died on December 19, 1952, after a lengthy illness at age 61. He was buried next to his wife in Holy Angels Cemetery in Roselle, IA.