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Born
Stanley Joseph Zaorski was born on August 15, 1910. Here, he is pictured at center, at about age 7. His mother (left, in the picture) died six months after this photo was taken. -
Worked as a milkman
In his mid-teens, Stanley delivered milk using a horse and buggy. As he delivered glass bottles of milk to a house, the horse, as it was trained to do, would walk to the next house, stop, and wait for him to catch up and deliver milk to the next customer. -
Enlisted in the U.S. Army
When he was 17 years old, he enlisted in the Army, in the 2nd Field Artillery. His parents wanted him out of the house so that they would have one less mouth to feed (they were very poor). -
Assigned to Panama
Stanley was assigned to Panama soon after enlisting in the Army at the age of 17. He was stationed there from February 1928 to January 1931. He was tasked with caring for the horses. The horses were used for transportation. Later they switched to motorcycles. The first time he was on a motorcycle, he burned his pants because he was used to gripping the horse with his knees and when he did that with the motorcycle, the hot engine burned holes on the inside of his pants. -
Got married
Stanley married Wanda on February 11, 1934 at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. They were attended by five bridesmaids and five groomsmen. Wanda's family was well-to-do. Her father made violins and gave violin lessons. He also sold beer during Prohibition. -
Recruited to join the Boston Red Sox
In the spring of 1934, while he was stationed at Fort Devens in Massachusetts, he was recruited to join the Boston Red Sox but decided to stay in the Army. He was paid more in the Army than he would have been paid to play baseball and he and his family needed the money (this was during the Great Depression). His wife also didn't want him playing professional baseball because she thought it was gross that they chewed tobacco and spit. -
First child (my grandfather)
His first child, Stanley Michael Zaorski, was born a year later on December 13. Stanley Michael is my grandfather. -
Second child
His second child, Bill, was born nearly two years after his first child. Here they are pictured in Puerto Rico, where he was stationed for two years. -
Third child
His third child, Joyce, was born several months before he left to fight in the European Campaign of WWII. This picture was taken while Stanley Joseph was in the war and his family was living in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. -
D-Day, Utah Beach
His unit arrived on the shoreline at 6:30 a.m. Only 3 cannons made it to shore; the rest sunk. Many U.S. soldiers drowned as well. Scouts were sent out, but they never returned. He was ordered to fire the cannons, with no idea as to where the shells were landing. -
Battle of the Bulge
Stanley fought in the Battle of the Bulge from December 1944 to January 1945. This was the biggest and bloodiest battle during WWII. His family was especially worried during this time period because he stopped sending mail home. General Patton wanted them to move quickly -- too quickly in Stanley's opinion, as the field artillery did not have enough time to set up. He earned the Bronze Star Medal with V Device. -
Stationed in Germany
After WWII, from May 1946 to September 1948, he was stationed in West Germany as part of the U.S. Constabulary, an elite force that provided general military and civil security in the aftermath of the war when West Germany was in desperate need of help. During this time, he was given the medals that he was awarded during the war. -
Bought first car - 1941 Plymouth
He had just returned to the United States from Germany, and he decided to buy a car, a grey 1941 Plymouth. Prior to that, he and his family lived on Army bases and had military transport or walked everywhere. There was a heater in the car, which was not standard equipment at that time. He later had a radio installed in the car, which was quite exciting for his children. -
Bought first house
Purchased first house at 53 Campbell Ave, Eatontown, NJ. The house is shown in the picture behind the car. -
Fourth child
His fourth child, Patti, was born on February 23, 1953, just before he went to Korea. -
Korean War
He fought in the Korean War from 1953 to 1954 as a Sergeant Major. -
Retired from U.S. Army
Retired after 26 years active military service with the rank of Master Sergeant. -
Period: to
Boat Repair
After retiring from the Army, he worked with boats and yachts in maintenance. -
Started working for Monmouth University
Started working for Monmouth University (then known as Monmouth College) in the facilities department -
First grandchild
At age 53, he became a grandfather for the first time. His granddaughter, Nadine, was born on November 15, 1963. -
Retired from Monmouth University
Retired from Monmouth University (then known as Monmouth College) -
Wife died
Wanda Zaorski died from a stroke in February of 1978 at age 67. -
Heart attack, open heart surgery
He was outside in the garden and felt lightheaded. He went to the doctor two days later and found out that he had had a heart attack. He was scheduled for open heart surgery several days later. -
Moved to the Menlo Park Veterans Memorial Home
After breaking his hip in an accident, he moved to a nursing home run by the Veterans Administration, located in Menlo Park, New Jersey. -
Died
Stanley Joseph Zaorski, war hero, loving father of 4, grandfather of 9, and great-grandfather of 9, died on October 21, 1999. He died in his sleep.
