World War II Honoree

Nicholas 'Shup' Phillips

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Birdsboro, Pennsylvania

Honored By

A Grateful American

FOUGHT WITH THE 28TH INFANTRY DIVISION IN BELGIUM'S HUERTGEN FOREST AND IN LUXEMBOURG WHEN THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE BEGAN. HE WAS CAPTURED BY A GERMAN GARRISON AND THEN MARCHED DAY AND NIGHT TO A PRISON CAMP NEAR DRESDEN, GERMANY. HE WAS LIBERATED ONE DAY BY RUSSIAN SOLDIERS; HOWEVER, THE RUSSIANS IMPRISONED HIM AGAIN, REFUSING TO RELEASE HIM TO THE RED CROSS. THREE WEEKS LATER HE ESCAPED AND SWAM THE ELBE RIVER TO FREEDOM.