Richard J. Nichols, was born 5/22/19 in Susquchanna, PA. Richard joined the Army in 1941 and attained the rank of Cpl. in the 17th Field Artillery, 2nd Army, Battery E. He was captured in Faid Pass, North Africa 2/14/43. He was marched to Tunis, flown to Reggio, Italy, sent by boxcar to Naples, then on to Munich and finally to Stalag IIIB on the Oder Canal, Furstenburg, Germany. Richard was force-marched from there to Stalag IIA at Neubrandenburg n February 1944. In May 1945 he woke up to find the German guards gone; six 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. He was taken to Halle, Germany, were he was debriefed by Army personnel, and then flown to Le Havre, France where he happily boarded a crowded ship for home. After leaving the service Richard spent several years working as a farmer. He also worked as a Rural Letter Carrier and retired in 1978 from the U.S. Postal service. He married Pauline Grausgruber in July, 1941. She passed away August, 1948 leaving 2 children ages 1 & 2. Richard and his second wife Barbara raised three children; Helen Rae, Richard S., and Jo Ann. The family descendents include 10 grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. Richard passed away on November 19, 1998.