Sgt LeRoy H. Erickson, 422nd DOW 15 Jan 1945

[mnvettes]

Hello,

I have enjoyed your site so far, but I must admit, it is a lot of information to take in at one time.  I am looking for any, and all information possible for Sgt LeRoy H. Erickson (SN 37553005) who was a member of the 422nd.  He was born 26 September 1922.  I have found his gravestone online, which is in Minnesota, and it provided some of the information that I have.  I was hopeful to find further information on what company he was a part of.  Being he was a Sgt, I am assuming that he may have been a squad leader.  It appears that he was wounded on 16 December 1944, and passed away 15 January 1945 while a POW.  I will continue to search this and other sites, but any advice or memories of this soldier are greatly appreciated.  God Bless, and Thank You!

Kindest Regards,
Erik.


        



Additional information for Sgt LeRoy H. Erickson Jr. (106th Infantry, 422nd Regiment, Company ?)

Taken from newspaper article St. Paul Dispatch 15 February 1946:

SGT ERICKSON RITES SUNDAY: LOST LIFE IN BOXCAR BOMBING
Memorial service for Sgt LeRoy  Herbert Erickson Jr., son of Mr. & Mrs. LeRoy Erickson Sr., 1938 Laurel Ave. who was killed in Germany, will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday in Wesley Methodist chapel, Cook and Park.  Sgt. Erickson was born in St. Paul September 25, 1922 and was graduated from Washington high school in 1940.  He was employed by the West Publishing Co., when he was called into service, March 13, 1943.  He went overseas in October 1944.  On December 16, 1944, he was reported missing but later it was learned he was wounded and taken prisoner.  While he was being moved in a boxcar to a German prison camp, the car was hit by a bomb from an American plane and he suffered a fatal wound.  The exact date of his death is not known but it is believed to have been about New Year's day 1945.  He is buried in Geraldstein (?Gerolstein?), Germany.

Sgt Erickson was later brought back to the U.S. and is buried in Minnesota.  I put the town that the paper had listed, but I believe they might not have spelled it correctly.  I believe that it could have been Gerolstein Germany where he was originally buried. 

Anyway, if this helps anyone recall Sgt. Erickson, I would greatly appreciate any additional information.

[connie]

This appears to be one of the many sad stories that came out of the 106th Infantry Division's time in the European Theater of Operation. If you are familiar with the history of that time you know that the date that Sgt. Erickson was wounded was the surprise beginning of the German Offensive that we know as the Battle of the Bulge (and others refer to as the Ardennes Offensive). It was a day filled with horror. And the 106th Infantry Division was at the center of this initial attack.

Within a few days, the majority of two out of three of the division's infantry regiments-- the 422nd and 423rd-- were surrounded. In a time of dense fog they were also cut off from the possibility of any air drops to resupply them with even food.

From your research it appears that Sgt. Erickson was wounded the first day and taken prisoner soon after that.

You appear to have collected more information than is currently available on Jim West's roster. So you are the one adding to the written record of this man.

You can find links to division history here and to stories of some in the 422nd. 106thdivision.proboards.com/board/15/helpful-links But I hope through this posting you can also find someone who knows more of the history Sgt. Erickson...

Connie

[engineercutoff44]

I live 10 Minutes from the 422 sector If I could get any names ,dates of places up here where this young man was will be happy to post them will send a few Connie ok?

[connie]

Just posted some 422 area photos from Michelle/ engineerscutoff under the "Photos From Germany/ Travel section. But she wanted you to see them here, too. So, here they are:

[mnvettes]

Thank you Connie for the post. I don't know how much will come forward for Sgt LeRoy H. Erickson, but one has to keep trying. I found some information about his family on Ancestor.com, and it appears his immediate family was not very large. Just him and a younger brother who married, but I have not found any additional family members. LeRoy's full story might never be really known, but at least keeping his name active is something. I appreciate your website, and continue to research.

Thank you Engineercutoff44. I am trying to find out anything that I can on Sgt LeRoy H Erickson.

Would like to find what company and platoon that he belonged to. Down to squad level would be ideal.

Also interested from other veterans how the wounded were cared for and transported as POW's. When they died were they buried at the POW camps, or sent back to the U.S.?? I am guessing that they were buried in Europe, and then repatriated at a later date.
God's Blessings.

[engineercutoff44]

not a problem if you get any info please pass it along will make photos of the area then will post pics of Schlausenbach soon HQ of the 422 Inf Rgt during the fighting up here and of Buchet the 423rd CP

[connie]

You should have the ability to add attachments. With the new upgrades to the board it should be easier than in the past-- comparable to adding a photo on your desktop to Facebook.

Right now when you're looking at this post you won't see any attachment tabs, but hit the reply tab at the bottom of my message. Toward the top right side of the "create post" form there should be an "add attachment " tab.

Let me know if this doesn't work. We'll figure it out!

PS. OK it loos like you figured it out in an edit to post 1 while I was typing this reply. Great!

[mnvettes]

Hi Connie,

Thank you.  Yes, I did eventually figure it out.  I also directly emailed additional information (photos and article) to Jim West to use if he would like with the roster.  I have another information source coming, and hopefully it will tell me what company he belonged to.  Thank you for all your help!