July 22, 2021 – West Bend, WI – A special tribute to Joe Zadra of West Bend, WI as the WWII veteran celebrates his 99th birthday.
It was Military Day at the Washington County Fair on Wednesday and during a ceremony honoring other WWII veterans the gathering gave Zadra a special birthday shoutout.
Zadra, now 99, 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.
Click HERE for a full schedule of events at the Washington County Fair.
