May 1, 2021 – West Bend, WI – The traffic was steady the first day of May as cars lined up for the American Legion drive-thru brat fry in West Bend.
Veteran Steve Rhode manned the grill and volunteers helped fill orders. A brief break was taken to pose for a photo with WWII veteran Joe Zadra.
Click HERE for a video interview with Zadra – Veterans History Project
At 98-years-old Zadra is one of the few remaining WWII vets in the area. Zadra served in the U.S. Army from 1942-46 and fought in the Battle of the Bulge  He was an intelligence officer in the 19th Tank Battalion that was sent to join the 6th Armored Division.
Zadra’s unit raced to safeguard the road to Bastogne, Belgium, on the southern flank of the battle.
Zadra survived the Battle of the Bulge but caught pneumonia and was taken to an aid station on Dec. 30. He recuperated in a hospital for a couple of weeks and returned to his unit.
Zadra, who grew up in Schofield, WI, spent decades working for the Gehl Co.
Edna Zadra and Joe were high school sweethearts. “She’s 99 too,” said Joe. “A little older than me though, her birthday is in February.”
“He never lets me forget it,” said Edna.
The Greatest Generation.