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John Camden Soper - NOTES FROM THE VIRTUAL WALL

In 1966 PFC Soper served with Company A, 2nd Bn, 502nd Infantry, 101st
Airborne, earning the Combat Infantryman Badge during that service. Although not
reflected in his MOS code, his service records indicate that he was Airborne
qualified.

John Camden Soper was born on 13 March 1947 in Hampton Virginia. His parents
were Asa John Soper who was originally from Michigan and Virginia Vernall Camden
who was born and raised in Richmond Virginia. At an early age John's parents
moved to 195 Kensington Avenue, Staten Island, New York where John grew up. He
attended local Staten Island schools and graduated from New Dorp High School in
June of 1965. While in high school John worked for the New York City Park System
and following high school he was employed by a local supermarket. Following his
death John's parents relocated to Richmond Virginia where in 1977 at age 65 his
mother died and his father passed away a year later at age 73. John's and his
family were of the protestant faith.

John enlisted in the army on 15 March 1966 and was in-processed at Fort Jackson
South Carolinia and transferred to Fort Gordon Georgia for basic combat infantry
training. He completed basic and advance individual training and in August of 1966
was assigned to Fort. Benning Georgia for basic airborne training. John's next
assignment was with Company A, 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 101st
Airborne Division, Republic of South Vietnam. His military occupation specialty was
11C1P, Ammo Bearer. Upon completion of his tour John returned to the states and
on March 28, 1967 he returned to Vietnam and was assigned to the 281st Assault
Helicopter Company as an 11B20, Door Gunner.

In early August of 1967 PFC John Camden Soper was a member of the 281st AHC
Project Delta support team under the command of Captain Bob Moberg, operating
out of An Hoa South Vietnam under Special Forces Operational Order 7-67,
Operation Samuria. On August the 6th 1967 the crew of UH-1D 65-09919 was
under the command of WO Gary Omdahl. WO Daryl Miller was assigned as the
second pilot, PFC Michael Goffredo was the Crew chief and PFC John Camden Soper
was the door gunner. The 281st flight, supported by the Wolfpack gun platoon was
in the process of extracting a reconnaissance team in a pick up zone covered by tall
trees with sparse foliage. The recon team was in site with no reported enemy
activity. However, the pick up site was located on a long grassy finger running
down hill and as such the extreme slope of the site and the high grass made the
approach difficult. Viewing this as a routine 281st extraction Captain Moberg
released the aircraft commander to make the pick up.

WO Gary Omdahl recalls that he brought the aircraft to a hover over the pickup
point and was in the process of maneuvering the helicopter backwards toward the
slope with the crew chief and gunner checking the tail rotor for clearance. As he
moved the helicopter close to the pickup point it suddenly dropped straight down

Section III 146