Photos from T/5 George Soper of the 63rd Infantry Division Band
Major General Louis Hibbs, CG 63rd Infantry Division meets with men of the 63rd Infantry Division on the 2d Anniversary of the Blood and Fire Division. Bad Mergentheim, Germany Jun 1945
Members of the 63rd Band on the way to a parade in Bensheim. T/5 George Soper on the left.
L-R: Sgt Leo V. Leick, T/4 Ernest O’Brannon and Pfc Harold Gallaspy, 63d Band, at Bad Mergentheim, Germany 1945
T/5 George Soper, 63d Band at Bad Mergentheim, Germany 1945
Actress Marlene Dietrich with 63d Band members, S/Sgt John Shideler, Sgt. William “Billy” Card and Pfc Albert Bianch
Actress Marlene Dietrich entertaining 63rd Infantry Division troops in Germany 1945
Hotel Kurhaus, 63d Band quarters in Bad Mergentheim, Germany 1945
Members of the 63d “Little Symphony Orchestra” at rehearsal for the 2d Summer “Popular” Concert in Bad Mergentheim, Germany 24 June 1945. L-R: Pfc Charles Falconio, Pfc Rudolph Legner and T/5 George Soper
“Zob” Miller, T/5 Frank Musingo and T/4 Ernest O’Bannon, 63d Band, in Bad Mergentheim, Germany 1945
The 63d Infantry Division Band passes in review at the Division Memorial Day Parade, May 1945
The 63d Salon Orchestra rehearsal at “Music Hall” Bad Mergentheim, Germany 15 May 1945
Pfc Rudolph Legner, 63d Band, in Paris, France August 1945
The 63d Band gives a rousing farewell to a homeward bound group of 63d Infantry Division veterans, Bad Mergentheim, Germany 1945
S/Sgt John Shideler conducts the 63d Band while playing for a Carnival and Circus, Bad Mergentheim, Germany 1 Jun 1945
63d Infantry Division Band playing at a Regimental Parade in Kunzelsau, Germany 5 Jun 1945. Black arrows point to T/5 George Soper
Unidentified member of the 63d Band at Kunzelsau, Germany 5 Jun 45
Unidentified member of 63d Band in Paris, France Aug 45
Pfc Rudolph Legner (Center) 63d Band in Paris, France, Aug 45
Pfc Cecil “Sharpy” Frye, Pfc Phillip Sunkel and T/5 Joseph “Pappy” Pezzula, Bad Mergentheim, Germany 1945
63d Band rehearsal break in Bad Mergentheim, Germany 1945. L-R: Pfc Charles Gibson, S/Sgt John Shideler, Pfc Gene A Layton (behind WOJG Polakoff), WOJG Harold Polakoff, Pfc Harold T Gallaspy, T/5 Louis Petrone, T/4 Charles Blue, Sgt Leo V Leick, T/4 Ernest O’Bannon, T/5 John H Bovell (against the tree) T/4 George D Marble and T/4 Arthur P. Engler.
Singer Martha Tilton with the Jack Benny show entertains 63d Infantry Division soldiers at Bad Mergentheim, Germany Jul 1945
The 63d Infantry Division Band plays at a ceremony in Sarreguemines, France 1945
63d Band enroute from Marseille to Sarreguemines France, 1945
US Tank in Sarreguemines, France 1945
63d Band encampment after landing in Marseille, France- 1945
63d Infantry Division units approach the Siegfried Line , Germany 1945
Nimble T/5 William “Hoot” Roane, 63d Band, skips rope with children in Sarreguemines, France 1945
63d Band members with children of Sarreguemines, France 1945
63d Band members in Sarreguemines, France 1945: Front row: T/5 Haskell Taylor and T/5 George Soper. Back row: Marcelle Muller(??), Pfc Soloman Jacobson and T/4 Bernard Marquis
63d Infantry Division Band members – Sarreguemines, France 1945
T/4 John Campbell accompanied by Cpl Samuel Berger of the 63d Band entertain troops at Sarreguemines, France 1945
63d Band member at the Siegfried Line, Germany Mar 45
Sgt Bernard Marquis, T/5 William “Hoot” Roane 63d Band and Lt Lee Meyer in Winnweiler, Germany 1945
T/5 George Soper, 63d Band, in Winnweiler, Germany 1945
63d Infantry Division sign announcing the entrance to the Siegfried Line Germany 1945
Passing through the Siegfried Line, Germany March 1945
Dragons Teeth of the Siegfried Line, Germany March 1945
T/5 George Soper, 63d Band at the Siegfried Line, Germany March 1945
T/5 George Soper, (Center), 63d Band in Adelsheim Ost, Germany 1945. Other members not identified.
T/4 Edward J Cooley, 63d Band wearing a German Military hat in Spiesen, Germany 1945
Unidentified 63d Band member in Kunzelsau, Germany 1945
T/5 George Soper at Supply Train in Adelsheim, Germany 1945
63d Band members after crossing the Rhine River, Germany 28
Mar 45
T/5 George Soper, 63d Band at river crossing Kunzelsau, Germany 1945
63d Band members entertaining troops in Kunzelsau, Germany 1945
Quarters for 63d Band in Kunzelsau, Germany 1945
T/5 George Soper, 63d Band just prior to crossing the Danube River, Germany April 1945
63d Band Bar-B-Q in Asselfingen, Germany 28 Apr 45.
Members of the 63d Inf Div Band prepare a meal “on-the-road” L-R: Pfc Salvatore LaRocca, Pfc Emerick T Lubonovich, , Pfc Albert Bianchi, , Pfc Rudolph A Legner Jr and Cpl Samuel L Berger
63d Band crosses the Danube River, Germany Apr 45
Anti-aircraft defense near Gunzburg, Germany Apr 45. Unit unknown
Sanford Manor, Rear, Centreville, MS. whereT/5 George Soper (63d Band) and his wife resided along with other soldiers and their families. 1943
View of Sanford Manor from the front.
Main Street, Centreville, MS 1943
Centre Theater, Centreville, MS 1943
Main Street, Centreville, MS 1943
Main Gate, Camp Van Dorn, MS 1943
Main Gate area, Cp Van Dorn MS 1943
Main Gate area, Cp Van Dorn, MS 1943
T/5 George E Soper, 63d Band in center of these two photos. Others unidentified. Cp Van Dorn, MS 1943
S/Sgt Lovell J. Steward and wife, I/255th Inf, Cp Van Dorn, MS 1943
Sgt Ebeling A/255 and wife on steps of Louisiana Capitol, Baton Rouge, LA 1943
Cp Van Dorn Soldiers living at Sanford Manor in Centreville, MS 1943: Back row: L-R Sgt Cornelius M Ahern Sr A/862, Lt Hap Hilstrom, unit unknown, T/5 George Soper, 63d Band. Front row: S/Sgt Lovell Steward, I/255 and Sgt Marvin Ebeling, A/255.
Wives of the soldiers to the left
Sgt Cornelius Ahern,A/862 and wife in the rear of Sanford Manor, Centreville, MS 1943
T/5 George E. Soper, 63d Inf Div Band Cp Van Dorn, MS 1944
The 63rd Infantry Division Band on parade at Camp Van Dorn, MS 1943 or 1944
T/5 George E. Soper, 63d Band and his wife Elsie in Centreville, MS 1943
T/5 George E Soper, 63d Band and his wife in Baton Rouge, LA 1943
Lt Hap Hilstrom and his wife Betty in Centreville, MS 1943
The Sanford House Bunch, Centreville, MS 1943 Back row: Cpl Jesse Stidd Hq 1st Bn
254th Inf; Pfc George Rex, F Co 253d Inf, George ??, S/Sgt Alvis Teague, I Co 255th Inf. Front Row L-R: Jo Stidd, Vivian Rex, Levona ?? and Nadine Teague.
The 63rd Infantry Division Dance Band, Cp Van Dorn, MS 1944. Back Row L-R: Pfc Salvatore LaRocca, Pfc Emerick Lubonovich, Pfc George Soper and Pfc Albert Bianchi (onn Bass). Front Row L-R: T/5 Clyde Baker, Pfc Robert Harbin, CWO David L. Wright, S/Sgt William Card, T/5 William (Hoot) Roane and Pfc Don Pablo (On Piano)
63rd Infantry Division Band members model their new jungle fatigues- ready for war in the Pacific. Cp Van Dorn MS 1944 Bottom Row L-R: Ben Leff, Charles Falconio, John Shaum, Charles Blue, William Franci, Rudolph Legner. Back Row L-R: Leo Leick, George Soper, Irwin Rochlin, Lee Meredith, ????, Arthur Morales, Edward Dolin, Ernest O’Bannon, Bernard Marquis, Haskill Taylor, William Shumway, ???, Sidney Adoff
63d Band members, pulling targets at the firing range. Cp Van Dorn, MS 1944
T/4 Charles Blue and Band mascot “Downbeat”, Cp Van Dorn, MS 1944
Members of the 63rd Band take a break from training at Cp Van Dorn MS 1944
63d Band at the firing range, Cp Van Dorn, MS 1944 
63rd Band on field exercise at Camp Van Dorn, MS 1944. T/5 George Soper is sixth from the left.
T/5 George Soper, 63d Band on bivouac, Cp Van Dorn MS 1944
63rd Infantry Division Band in concert at Port Gibson, MS, 1944
Members of the 63rd Infantry Division Band on bivouac, Cp Van Dorn, MS 1944
Pfc Clarence Franc firing a Bazooka at tank. Cp Van Dorn MS 1944
T/5 Lee Meredith, 63d Band at Cp Van Dorn, MS 1944
T/4 Bernard Marquis, 63d Band at Cp Van Dorn , MS 1944
George Soper and wife Elsie on furlough in Chicago, January 1944
George Soper 63d Band doing a little fishing in Louisiana, 1944
George Soper, 63d Band fixes a flat tire while his wife Elsie looks on. 1944
63rd Band members, S/Sgt John Shideler and Pfc George Soper, cross the Mississippi River along with Elsie Soper- 1944
A really great view of the 63rd Infantry Division Band crawling through the Infiltration Course at Camp Van Dorn, MS 1944. Everyone remembers this exciting event.
T/4 Bernard Marquis, 63d Band, Cp Van Dorn, MS 1944
63d Infantry Division Band members and friends, Cp Van Dorn, MS 1944: L-R: Pfc Charles Falconio, Unknown woman(Rose maybe), “Downbeat” and T/4 Peter Tannenbaum.
T/5 George Soper 63d Band
George Soper and his wife on the left enjoying a last night out in New York before he left for Europe- 1945. Couple on the right not identified