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Edgar Coolidge Hicks was born in 1925, in Surry County to Herbert and Mallie Creed Hicks. He was the second youngest child of eleven children. His baby brother is Andrew's grandpa, Marlin.

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Andrew Hicks was born in Forsyth County on May 24, 2002. He grew up in Surry County, he is the youngest of 3 children. He has a brother and sister that are twins.

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Edgar grew up working in the fields, riding mules, and plowing corn and tobacco fields.

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Andrew grew up on a different type of field, playing baseball from the the age of 3, all the way up to college.

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Ed graduated from Beulah High School in 1943, and just a few months later, signed up to join the military to fight in WWII.

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North Surry High School, West Pine Street, Mount Airy, NC

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Andrew graduated from North Surry High School, and decided to go to college and continue his education.

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Fort Wolters Training Site, Warren, Mineral Wells, TX

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Ed arrived at Fort Walters, Texas for basic training. Upon finishing basic, he went to Virginia, where he shipped off to join the Italian campaign.

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Surry Community College, South Main Street, Dobson, NC

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Andrew attended Surry Community College, he spent two years at Surry, then left for another school.

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Ed arrived into the Mediterranean and was quickly baptized into the fires of war. His platoon marched towards Montelopio, where his life would change forever.

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Appalachian State University, Rivers Street, Boone, NC

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After Surry Community, Andrew headed up to Appalachian State University. He would spend the next two years here, working on a degree in middle grades education. This is the end of Andrew's story.

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Not long after Ed's arrival to the war, he was captured by German forces in Montelopio, Italy. He was captured alongside a man named Duke Karsch, who was Jewish. He and and spent the next month together, before being separated. Ed never found out what happened to Duke.

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Ed arrived in at Stalag 7-A, one of the largest German POW camps. Ed experienced what he called "lost dignity" at this camp. Going through awful situations, just to survive.

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Ed was moved to Stalag II-B. It was here that Ed learned the Germans loved American cigarettes. The Red Cross would send him parcels with cigarettes, that he would barter to the guards in exchange for extra food.

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This was the last place that Ed was transferred to as a POW. There was a farm here that he and other prisoners worked on.

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As the allies drew the war to a close. Ed and the other prisoners were forced to march away from the allied lines. It was here in Menzendorf that he saw American tanks break over the hills, and he knew he was going home. Over the course of his time as a POW, Ed was forced to march over 875 miles. His last march started with over 3000 POWs, but only about 1400 remained when they were liberated.

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Ed returned home, he was discharged from the army on December 23, 1943. He met a girl upon returning home named Betty Sue Long, he married her 20 months later, and they remained married until his death in 2005. Through the GI Bill, Ed was able to attend UNC Chapel Hill and get a degree in engineering. He lived a lifetime and a half of adventure, suffering, and happiness.