:Edward Soriano

Born on 12 November 1946 in Pangasinan, Philippines, to Ilocos Sur natives, Soriano came to the United States in the early 1950s when his father, Fred Soriano, a soldier in the United States Army, was assigned to Fort Benning, Georgia; he was six when he left the Philippines. Soriano's mother's name was Encarnacion.{{cite news | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9lc1AAAAIBAJ&dq=edward-soriano&pg=901%2C26973278 | title=Fil-Am general gets hero's welcome in Pangasinan | date=21 September 2004 | access-date=20 May 2013 | author=Sotelo-Fuetes, Yolanda | newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer}} Soriano's father was a corporal in the 57th Infantry (Philippine Scouts) during World War II. After the surrender of American forces on Bataan to the Japanese, the elder Soriano became a prisoner of war and was subjected to the Bataan Death March. The elder Soriano later served in the Korean War, and again became a prisoner of war.{{cite web |url=https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/65545 |title=Fred D. Soriano |year=2013 |work=Military Times Hall of Valor |publisher=Gannett |access-date=22 May 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017083827/http://projects.militarytimes.com/citations-medals-awards/recipient.php?recipientid=65545 |archive-date=17 October 2013 }}
{{cite journal |last1=Santos |first1=Synthia |year=2004 |title=The Fort Lewis Military Museum Pays Tribute to Philippine Scouts |journal=The Banner |volume=XVIII |issue=3 |pages=7 |publisher=Fort Lewis Museum |url=http://www.fortlewismuseum.com/flm/news/banner_pdfs/200403.pdf |access-date=26 May 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017141835/http://www.fortlewismuseum.com/flm/news/banner_pdfs/200403.pdf |archive-date=17 October 2013 }}
{{cite web |url=http://www.apimages.com/metadata/Index/Watchf-AP-I-PRK-APHS292353-Korean-War/eede3e883fbe4ac589e7837ccf01c1fb/1/0 |title=520406196 |author=Frank Noel |date=6 April 1952 |work=Associated Press Images |publisher=Associated Press |access-date=26 May 2013 }} During the Korean War, young Edward and the rest of his family moved from Guam back to the Philippines.{{cite news|url=http://www.asianweek.com/082297/newsmaker.html |title=Major General |date=28 August 1997 |access-date=6 April 2013 |author=Eljera, Bert |newspaper=Asian Week |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324090409/http://www.asianweek.com/082297/newsmaker.html |archive-date=24 March 2012 }} His father later retired from the army as a major. In the 1960s, his family moved to Salinas, California,{{cite news |title=Fil-Am now US Army lieutenant general |agency=Associated Press |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=71g1AAAAIBAJ&dq=edward-soriano&pg=2487%2C20004704 |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=14 August 2002 |access-date=20 May 2013}} and Soriano later graduated from Salinas High School. His father's service inspired Edward Soriano to join the military.

Soriano graduated from San Jose State University (SJSU) in 1970, and later earned a Master of Public Administration from the University of Missouri.{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0V0gO8tArK8C&pg=PA192 | title=Diversity in the Power Elite: How it Happened, Why it Matters | publisher=Rowman & Littlefield | access-date=14 April 2013 | last1=Zweigenhaft | first1=Richard L. | last2=Domhoff | first2=William | year=2006 | page=192 | isbn=9780742536999}} Soriano is married to Vivian Guillermo, who was born in the United States to Laoag natives.{{cite news | url=http://www.philstar.com/starweek-magazine/265404/one-man%C2%92s-path-stars | title=One Man's Path To the stars | date=24 September 2004 | access-date=21 May 2013 | author=Pamintuan, Ana Marie T. | newspaper=The Philippine Star}} The couple have two children, Melissa and Keith.

Soriano was commissioned as an infantry officer through the Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps at SJSU, in 1970.{{cite journal |last1=Roth |first1=Jonathan |year=2013 |title=SJSU Alumnus Retires as Highest-ranking Filipino American |journal=Spartan Salute |volume=6 |issue=Spring 2013 |pages=1, 4 |publisher=San Jose State University |url=http://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1005&context=spartsalute |access-date=20 May 2013}} Soriano's first assignment was at the Recondo School at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, which was followed by command of an anti-tank platoon in the 508th Infantry.{{cite web |url=http://www.west-point.org/users/usma1990/47566/fpiv/bios/soriano.htm |title=Force Projection Symposium IV bios |author= |work=west-point.org |access-date=20 May 2013}} Soriano was then sent to Korea where he commanded Combat Support Company, 1st Battalion, 23d Infantry, 2nd Infantry Division, before he was transferred to command Company A, 3d Battalion, 47th Infantry, 3d Brigade, 9th Infantry Division at Fort Lewis, Washington. After attending the United States Army Infantry School at Fort Benning, Soriano served with the United States Army Recruiting Command in Albany, New York, before commanding Company C, 1st Battalion, 39th Infantry Regiment, 8th Infantry Division in Germany. Following his service in Europe, Soriano attended the United States Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth and University of Missouri, Kansas City, before serving in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans and in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel at The Pentagon. After his service in The Pentagon, he commanded 2nd Battalion, 41st Infantry, 2nd Armored Division at Fort Hood, Texas, before attending the United States Army War College and returning to The Pentagon.

File:Yama Sakura 45 opening ceremony.jpg, and MG Perkins shaking hands in 2004|alt=Two American generals wearing battle dress uniforms, and one Japanese general wearing a camouflage field uniform, all shaking hands.]]

During operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Soriano served as the chief of the liaison team to the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force. After the conflict ended, Soriano contributed to the Secretary of Defense's Gulf War Report as the chief of the army section while serving in the Office of the Chief of Staff.{{cite web |url=http://www.dod.mil/pubs/foi/operation_and_plans/PersianGulfWar/404.pdf |title=Conduct of the Persian Gulf War |author= |date=April 1992 |work=dod.mil |publisher=United States Department of Defense |access-date=26 May 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130713012653/http://www.dod.mil/pubs/foi/operation_and_plans/PersianGulfWar/404.pdf |archive-date=13 July 2013 }} In 1992, Soriano received his first assignment at Fort Carson, Colorado, as the commander of the 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division. Following this command, Soriano returned to Germany to serve with the 3d and 1st Infantry Divisions, which included deployments to Bosnia for peacekeeping during Operation Joint Endeavor. Returning to the United States, he undertook various positions in Virginia and The Pentagon, including service as Director, Officer Personnel Management, within the Total Army Personnel Command. From 1999 to 2001, Soriano commanded the 7th Infantry Division and Fort Carson.{{cite news |title=General takes over Fort Lewis Command |agency=Associated Press |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5GVWAAAAIBAJ&pg=2847%2C3243173 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |date=14 August 2002 |access-date=20 May 2013}} Soriano served as Director of Homeland Security for United States Joint Forces Command from October 2001 to August 2002, which laid the foundations for what has become the Northern Command.

Soriano's final assignment was command of I Corps and Fort Lewis, beginning in August 2002. Under his leadership, Fort Lewis became a force provider for Operation Iraqi Freedom,{{cite book |last=McGrath |first=John |chapter=A Brigade Replaces a Division, Northern Iraq, 2004 |editor1-first=John J. |editor1-last=McGrath |title=Between the Rivers |url=http://usacac.army.mil/cac2/cgsc/carl/download/csipubs/BetweenTheRivers_McGrath.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130302074425/http://usacac.army.mil/cac2/cgsc/carl/download/csipubs/BetweenTheRivers_McGrath.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=2 March 2013 |access-date=20 May 2013 |year=2012 |publisher=Combined Studies Institute Press |location=Forth Leavenworth, Kansas |isbn=9780988583702 |page=109 }}{{cite news |title=Fil-Am general on top of US war preparations |author=Orejas, Tonette |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=MFU1AAAAIBAJ&pg=548%2C2804155 |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=7 February 2003 |access-date=20 May 2013}} including the first deployment of the Stryker with the 2nd Infantry Division.{{cite news |title=New Army 'Stryker' combat vehicle nears Iraq test |author=Tyson, Ann Scott |url=http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/1009/p02s02-usmi.html |newspaper=Christian Science Monitor |date=9 October 2003 |access-date=26 May 2013}}
{{cite news |title=On the move |author=Gregg K. Kakesako |url=http://archives.starbulletin.com/2003/11/02/news/story8.html |newspaper=Star Bulletin |date=2 November 2003 |access-date=26 May 2013}} In June 2004, as the commander of Fort Lewis, Soriano ordered the court-martial of Ryan G. Anderson,{{cite news|url=http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2001963122_websoldier23.html |title=Soldier accused of trying to help terrorists faces court-martial |date=23 June 2004 |agency=Associated Press |access-date=20 May 2013 |author=Mitchell, Melanthia |newspaper=Seattle Times |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022135629/http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2001963122_websoldier23.html |archive-date=22 October 2013 }} who was convicted of providing aid to al-Qaeda and was sentenced in September 2004 to life in prison with the possibility of parole after Soriano removed the death penalty as a possible sentencing option.{{cite news |title=Guardsman convicted of trying to help al-Qaida |author=Barber, Mike |url=http://www.seattlepi.com/default/article/Guardsman-convicted-of-trying-to-help-al-Qaida-1153259.php |newspaper=Seattle Post-Intelligencer |date=2 September 2004 |access-date=20 May 2013}} In September 2004, Soriano met with Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo at Malacanang,{{cite news |title=Fil-Am general in US military visits Arroyo |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-122199466.html |newspaper=Manila Bulletin |date=18 September 2004 |access-date=7 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105212346/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-122199466.html |archive-date=5 November 2013 |url-status=dead }}
{{cite news |title=GMA praises 3-star FilAm general in US armed forces |url=http://www.manilamail.com/features/FilAmGeneral.htm |newspaper=Manila Mail |date=17 September 2004 |access-date=7 April 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017065246/http://www.manilamail.com/features/FilAmGeneral.htm |archive-date=17 October 2013 }} who he had met before during Arroyo's state visit in May 2003,{{cite news |title=Bush, like Clinton, has Pinoy aides |author=Marichu Villanueva |url=http://www.philstar.com/news-feature/207079/bush-clinton-has-pinoy-aides |newspaper=The Philippine Star |date=22 May 2003 |access-date=20 May 2013 |quote=Also a source of presidential pride was the presence of US army Lt. Gen. Edward Soriano, who was introduced by Bush to Mrs. Arroyo as "one of the highest ranking Filipino Americans in the history of America's military."
As they shook hands, the President said Soriano thanked her for going to his hometown of Alcala, Pangasinan to save his fellow townmates from discrimination after the country's first two reported deaths from Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome were from Alcala. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925011746/http://www.philstar.com/news-feature/207079/bush-clinton-has-pinoy-aides |archive-date=25 September 2015 |url-status=dead }} after being invited by General Narciso Abaya, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. In November 2004, Soriano turned over command of I Corps and Fort Lewis to Lieutenant General James M. Dubik,{{cite news|title=Incoming commander not new to Fort Lewis |author=Seattle Post-Intelligencer Staff |url=http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Incoming-commander-not-new-to-Fort-Lewis-1158275.php |newspaper=Seattle Post-Intelligencer |date=1 November 2004 |access-date=20 May 2013 }}
{{cite news|title=Local Digest |url=http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2002081779_dige04m.html |newspaper=Seattle Times |date=4 November 2004 |access-date=20 May 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022135627/http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2002081779_dige04m.html |archive-date=22 October 2013 }} and finally retired from active duty on 1 March 2005.{{cite web | title=Lieutenant General EDWARD SORIANO | url=http://www.riley.army.mil/bigredone/commandteam/Former/ADC/Soriano,%20Edward.htm | work=Fort Riley | publisher=United States Army | access-date=6 April 2013 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017064904/http://www.riley.army.mil/bigredone/commandteam/Former/ADC/Soriano%2C%20Edward.htm | archive-date=17 October 2013 | df=dmy-all }}

File:Fort Carson Museum groundbreaking.jpg, Soriano, and COL Robert McLaughlin at the Fort Carson Museum groundbreaking in 2010|alt=A woman, two army soldiers wearing Army Combat Uniforms, and one man in a suit, all wearing hardhats carrying shovels with freshly dug dirt.]]

Since his retirement, Soriano has worked for Northrop Grumman as the Director of Training and Exercises for Homeland Security and Joint Forces Support.{{cite news |first=Michelle |last=Bohlen

|title=Northrop Grumman Awarded 2009 FEMA National Level Exercise Contract |url=http://www.irconnect.com/noc/press/pages/news_releases.html?d=154893 |work=News Releases |publisher=Northrop Grumman Corporation |date=18 November 2008 |access-date=31 May 2009}} He has also sat on numerous boards of directors including Home Front Cares{{cite web|title=The Home Front Cares 2012 Annual Report |url=http://www.thehomefrontcares.org/assets/THFCAnnualReport2012.pdf |publisher=The Home Front Cares |year=2012 |access-date=20 May 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017122945/http://www.thehomefrontcares.org/assets/THFCAnnualReport2012.pdf |archive-date=17 October 2013 }} and Goodwill Industries of Colorado Springs.{{cite news |title=Business Briefs – 2/3/2006 |url=http://csbj.com/2006/02/03/business-briefs-232006/ |newspaper=The Colorado Business Journal |date=3 February 2006 |access-date=20 May 2013}} Additionally, Soriano is the current president of the board of directors of the Mountain Post Historical Center at Fort Carson,{{cite web|title=Board of Directors |url=http://www.fortcarsonmuseum.com/board-of-directors |publisher=The Mountain Post Historical Center |access-date=31 May 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707005156/http://fortcarsonmuseum.com/board-of-directors |archive-date= 7 July 2011 }} and the vice-chairman of the Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce's military affairs committee.{{cite news|title=Hickenlooper: Troops key to success |author=Schroyer, John |url=http://gazette.com/article/108427 |newspaper=The Gazette |date=22 November 2010 |access-date=20 May 2013 |quote=Retired Army Lt. Gen. Edward Soriano said he was "delighted" with Hickenlooper's remarks.
"That's precisely what we're about," said Soriano, who is also vice-chairman of the chamber's military affairs committee. }}
{{cite web|url=http://www.coloradospringschamber.org/military/pdf/L4-%20BOARD%20MEMBERS.pdf |title=Board Members |year=2013 |work=coloradospringschamber.org |publisher=Colorado Springs Regional Business Alliance |access-date=20 May 2013 }}{{dead link|date=December 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Along with retired Major General Antonio Taguba, Soriano has been active in ceremonies to provide facsimiles of Filipino Veterans of World War II Congressional Gold Medal to surviving veterans and their family members.{{cite news |last=Nucum |first=Jun |date=30 May 2018 |title=Old soldiers remember friends, sufferings, at SF gold medal rites |url=https://usa.inquirer.net/12600/old-soldiers-remember-friends-sufferings-sf-gold-medal-rites |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer |access-date=7 December 2019 }}

Soriano received the following awards and decorations:

{{col-begin}}

{{Col-1-of-2}}

{{Col-2-of-2}}

{{col-end}}

{{Portal|Biography}}

• Eldon Regua
• List of notable Filipino American servicemembers

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite web |url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/security/library/congress/1997_h/h971104s.htm |title=The Federal Response to Domestic Terrorism Involving House National Security |author=MG Edward Soriano, Director of Military Support, HQDA |year=1997 |work=globalsecurity.org }}
• {{cite AV media |people=Edward Soriano |year=1998 |title=Domestic Terrorism Response Budget |url=http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/ResponseB |publisher=C-SPAN }}
• {{cite AV media |people=Edward Soriano |year=2004 |title=Lt. Gen. Soriano |url=http://www.dvidshub.net/video/80089/lt-gen-soriano#.UaJH3KIsnng |publisher=Defense Video & Imagery Distribution System }}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Soriano, Edward}}

Category:1946 births

Category:Filipino emigrants to the United States

Category:United States Army generals

Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit

Category:Living people

Category:People from Pangasinan

Category:San Jose State University alumni

Category:University of Missouri alumni

Category:American military personnel of Filipino descent

Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army)

Category:Recipients of the Defense Superior Service Medal

Category:American people of Ilocano descent

Category:Recipients of the Meritorious Service Medal (United States)