217587 Pte. Redus Tisan "Dink" Hill US Army Coy B 180th Infantry Division from:Erick Oklahoma, USA Redus Tisan Hill, known as Dink, was captured in Sicily during the invasion. He was taken by train to Stalag IIIB, and then transferred to Stalag IIB, In 1945 when the Russians arrived he escaped with a lieutenant through a hole in the fence, and was taken by the Russians. After traveling with the Russians for about 14 days they returned to Stalag IIB to attempt to liberate the Allied POWS, but upon arrival found that the Germans had killed the majority of the prisoners, and piled them in the compound 5 feet high, hundreds dead. I have one very badly damaged photo of the stacked bodies. After this disaster I understand the Russians buried the bodies in a mass grave.
Dink and the lieutenant were released and told to make their own way to the American lines. Along the way they ran across two motorcycle couriers from the German army, who they killed and took the motor cycle/with sidecar. Closer to American lines they went off-road to avoid a German patrol and were ambushed, and the Lieutenant was severely injured, and told Hill to go without him and leave him the pistol. Hill did so. Hill thought that the Lt. had killed himself after he left.
Hill eventually made it alone to the American lines and reported. He was held for a month while his health recovered and then repatriated back to Oklahoma where he was discharged.
He was awarded the PH and the POW medal after his discharge.
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