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Last Name: ` NICHOLS	First Name Middle Initial: RICHARD		Nick Name: 'DICK'
Street: 98 MYRTLE AVE	City & State: JOHNSON CITY, NY		E-Mail:
Zip: 13790	Phone:		Spouse: BARBARA D
Conflict: WW II	Service Branch: ARMY		Unit: 17 FA 2 ARMY BTTY
Theater: ETO	Where Captured: AFRICA		Date Captured: 02/14/43
Camps Held In: TUNIS MUNICH 3B CAMP NORTH OF BERLIN			How Long Interned: 829 days
liberated / repatriated: liberated	Date Liberated: 05/23/45		Age at Capture: 24
Medals Received: GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, POW MEDAL
Military Job: HEAVY MACHINE GUNNER		Company: U.S. POSTAL SERVICE
Occupation after War: MAIL CARRIER

Military Bio:

Richard J. Nichols, died 11/19/98. He married to Barbara, and was born 5/22/19 in Susquchanna, PA. After joining the Army Richard became a Cpl. in the 17th Field Artillery, 2nd Army, Battery E. Mr. Nichols was captured in Faid Pass, North Africa 2/14/43, After his capture he was marched to Tunis, flown to Reggio, Italy, sent by boxcar to Naples, on to Munich and finally Stalag IIIB on the Oder Canal, Furstenburg, Germany. Richard was on a forced marched in February 1944 to Stalag IIA at Neubrandenburg, and in May 1945 he woke up to find the German guards gone; six of the POWs including Richard left on foot toward the Ebbe River. Three days later they caught up with U.S. troops on the East Side of the Elbe. Mr. Nichols was later taken to Halle, Germany, were he was debriefed by Army and flown to Le Havre, France where we happily boarded a crowded ship home.

After leaving the service Richard spent several years working as a farmer, he also worked as a Rural Letter Carrier, retired in 1978 for the U.S. Postal service. Richard had three children; Mrs. Michael (Helen Rae) Egan, Windsor, NY; Richard S. Nichols, Van Etten, NY; Mrs. John (Jo Ann) Lennon, Endicott, N.Y., 10 grandchildren, and 7 great-grandchildren. Married to Pauline Grausgruber July, 1941. She passed away August, 1948 leaving 2 children ages 1 & 2.