My father writes: (March 31, 1993)
"Dear David Schenck,
I was surprised at how much information you had about me. I was captured near Rochefort on Christmas morning with Pvts. Summit and Hartsell (a sgt?, and Lt Stumberg from our Company K, 335th Regt. And at least two others from another company that we connected up with as we got out of Rochefort (under fire) and attempted to get to Marche to rejoin our Company K.
The Lt. and I were wounded and so was one of the other guys from the other company, so we didn't get too far and when it got dark we broke into a roadhouse to get some sleep. The Germans captured us early Christmas morning.
I can't remember the dates but the best I can recollect is that I was in Limburger for about a week or ten days in early January. Now, after an "exhausting" search of my "files" I have found a letter written November 17th, 1945, which says that I (we) left XIIA on January 22nd, 1945, on a four day boxcar ride to Stalag IIA, New Brandenburg , where I was held until approximately March 9, 1945 when we were taken on a march that lasted until April 13, 1945.
We were liberated near Magdeberg, Germany by US Army troops. (The Old Hickory Division...don't remember the number). At that time we were sent by truck to Hildesheim, Germany, for delousing and then flown to Camp Lucky Strike where I was hospitalized for infections and malnutrition. Aprils 18, 1945 to May 10, 1945 in the 77th Field Hospital and 306th General Hospital.
I was sent to the States as a wounded POW on May 20th, so it looks as though we just missed each other, both at Gerolstein and Limburger, and I'm sorry I don't remember Harris, Baker, and Althaus whom you mentioned in your letter.
Sincerely,
Richard A. Perlich 17144050
P.S. Battle Of The Bulge Then And Now- pg. 364, bottom of page. I'd swear that's a picture of the street on which I was hit."
