Edward Soboleski

By Kieran Egan

SCRANTON (April 4, 2023) - A veteran at the Gino Merli Center looks at his military service and overall life.

Edward Soboleski, 85, is a former member of the marines and air force. He grew up in Swoyersville but left to enlist in the Marines in 1954. He was only 17 when he  enlisted in the military. Because of his age, his parents had to  sign his paper.

“My mom wanted me to go to the military right away. There was no other option,” Soboleski said. 

Soboleski also graduated high school while serving in the Marines. He stayed in the Marines for half of his time in the military and he spent the latter part of his service in the Air Force.

Soboleski transitioned to the lifestyle of being in the Marines quickly.

 “It wasn’t hard because I was going to be drafted. So I wanted to go on how I wanted to go,” Soboleski said.

Soboleski did not have a specific rank while he was in the Marines or Air Force since he was in both branches for a short time, they did not give one. Soboleski was stationed in Wyoming for the Marines and he was in Louisiana for the Air Force. Soboleski did not take the time he was stationed for granted.

“I wish I can do it all over again. It was one of the best experiences in my life,” Soboleski said.

Soboleski has had tough experiences while being in the Marines and the Air force. He has gone through gas chambers where he had to put gas masks on. Soboleski remembers his fellow soldiers' reactions to the gas chambers.

”The tears came falling out of people’s eyes. It was scary. That was a sad moment of my military experience,” Soboleski said.

Soboleski enjoyed the dances during the weekends in the military. They had no dates during the dance but it didn’t bother Soboleski. Soboleski never got in trouble during his military service. He tried to stay out of trouble and kept himself on the low. He never wanted to get in trouble.

”I saw some guys picking up cigarette buds in detail. There were penalties for detail, so not for me,” Soboleski said.

 If someone got in trouble, they would get put in a stockade.  Soboleski also had to do some duties while he was in the service. He had to pick up parachutes and get them started. He would also pick up generators and work Soboleski rarely had any free time, but he used it while it counted. His favorite thing to do was go to the Louisiana hayride. He also met famous singer Elvis Presley when he first started to come up in the singing industry. Soboleski remembers what happened during that time.

“I remember the traffic and everything was blocked up in the streets,“ Soboleski said.

Soboleski would come home from the service frequently. He remembers the first time he came home and how he dealt with it.

 “It was different. I had my uniform, but I was really shy coming home.The second time and overtime made it better and easier,” Soboleski said.

Soboleski never kept in contact with anyone in the military after he left the service. Soboleski had a great time in the military. He never had a specific favorite moment, but he did appreciate what it did for him.

 “I just enjoyed the lifestyle of being in the military,” Soboleski said.

Soboleski finished his career for good in 1964 after an ear injury in 1963. He was married to his wife, Leena May, in 1964 and wanted to start a family. They were married for 55 years until Leena May passed away in 2012. He has three step daughters with Leena May. He did not have any kids of his own, but he made sure he would be the best stepfather to Donna, Barbara and Philis.

“They were good kids. I love all three of them deeply,” Soboleski said.

 He had other family members that served in the military. Most of his uncles and aunts were in the Marines and Airforce. His one  aunt and uncle met in the Air Force and were married after they left.

Soboleski worked in construction after his military service. He worked there for 55 years until he retired in 1999. He became more of a family man. He now resides at the Gino Merli Center in Scranton, Pennsylvania. He has met fellow military service members at the Center. He had one thing that stuck with him during and after serving in the military.

“It made me more of a man. I was a shy kid coming into the service,  but it made me more manly after I got out. That’s the one thing I take away from this whole experience being there,” Soboleski said.