Hi Jean,
My Dad, Walter Brinegar, A Company, 27th AIB, 9th Armored, was captured on December 23, 1944 just outside of St Vith. He and Sgt Thicke were in the same foxhole when they were captured. He and Sgt Thicke were together for a while (after being walked for over a week, until after New Years according to the recording I have). They were together for awhile but Sgt Thicke was taken to a different POW camp as, we believe, he was not injured. I BELIEVE (not positive) they were seperated at Gerolstein. Gerolstein being the horrible place my father talks about in his recording. My father says in the recording they walked for 5 weeks. I estimate they got to 'The Factory"/Gerolstein maybe about February 5th. Then, they put them on the train, 40 and 8, to Seigburg. He said there was about 3 feet of frozen horse manure they sat on for the week on the train. I want to determine for certain if Gerolstein is where "The factory" he speaks of really is located. Was your father on a train as well?
I did contact the 309th on FB and got a reply. I asked if they know of anybody that was part of the liberation is still around. I'd love to talk to them if they are.
Talk to you soon!
Below is the information I have found on Sgt Thicke - (note it says he was capture 12/22/1944 but my father states they were captured 12/23/1944 in the a.m.) Notice his discharge indicates he was at 12A and then 9B.
I
Enlistment:: 36106925
THICK DAVID R JR
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DETROIT MICHIGAN Born: 1919
36106925
THICK DAVID R JR
Staff Sergeant
Date of Capture: 22 DEC 44
0A
0A
Unit: 0027
Camp: Stalag 12A to 9B Limburg An Der Lahn Hessen-Nassau, Prussia