Nevada Historic Markers in Elko County: Unknown Soldiers
Nevada Historical Marker 73
Unknown Soldiers
Montello Cemetery on SR 233
Montello
Victims of the influenza epidemic of 1918, the graves of ten soldiers buried here represent a mystery to this day as to their identity. During a period of W orld War I, troop trains ran regularly through Montello. As soldiers became ill en route, they were unloaded at the nearest hospitals. The Southern Pacific Railroad kept a doctor at Montello who checked every train en route. Ill passengers were treated in a makeshift hospital at the town's hotel.
The graves were unmarked for years but through the persistent efforts of Mr. and Mrs. W illiam Kimber of Montello, and the 40 & 8 of Las Vegas, the previously unmarked graves, although still unidentified as to name, were marked in 1975.
Unfortunately, fires had destroyed the original government records.