On Jan. 21, 1945 Francis B. Hayes Jr. was captured by German forces during the Battle of the Bulge.

"We became completely cut off," Hayes, 89, Manasquan, said. "Germans were all around us. We were neither able to pull back nor advance and were running out of ammunition. Relief could not get through to us."

He was moved several times between various prison camps. As the Allies pushed the Germans back, the Germans brought their prisoners deeper into Germany.

"I had to share a bunk with another prisoner," said Hayes. "We had only one blanket between us and were given very little to eat. The final prison camp I was in was Stalag XII B in the northern section of Germany. British troops were fighting in the northern section of Germany."

British troops liberated his prison camp on April 16.

After VE Day (Victory in Europe Day) in May, 1945, the ship Hayes sailed on was in the last convoy to be escorted back across the Atlantic to come back to the United States.

Last Friday, 70 years after his experience as a Prisoner of War, Hayes received the POW medal from Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.) at a small ceremony in Smith's Freehold office.

"It's a little late, but better late than never," said Smith, who was the chairman of the Veterans Committee in the House of Representatives for four years.

In 1985 he voted to create the POW Medal.

"Prisoners of war have given above and beyond to their country. All are heroes who have protected our freedoms."

This article was originally printed in the Sunday edition of the Asbury Park Press on Page A4, and online at: http://www.app.com/story/news/local/neptune-wall/2015/02/01/manasquan-wwii-veteran-receives-pow-medal/22687251/