Memorial

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T/5 Stephen M. Zoradi graduated from the county high school and was attending the University of Nevada.

At 04:30 A.M. the platoon left Suhl to go out and clear a road block near the town of Schleusingen. On the road to the destination they passed elements of the 41st Cav. who informed them that elements of their units were already in that town. They proceeded and at 07:00 A.M. found themselves right in the middle of a hornest nest. Ambushed! They dismounted and began returning the fire. In face of overwhelming odds the platoon leader was left with no alternative but to withdraw. All this time Zoradi and Parkhurst, exposed to enemy fire, were giving the Germans a taste of their own medicine by pouring hot lead from our 50 cal. mounted on the trucks, into their positions. The trucks were turned around and at about that time, the Germans seeing that they had them hopelessly outnumbered, began an attack from the front with fixed bayonets receiving fire support from other of their units on the left and right of the American position. Most of the men loaded up but many were unable to make it and had to take off on foot with the Germans beginning to close in from all sides. A jeep was waiting about 500 yards back and all men then present loaded up. There wasn't room in the jeep for all. T/5 Zoradi was one of the men who were killed.