World War II Honoree

Ralph D. Erickson

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Chicago, Illinois

Honored By

John C. Burkhardt, MOPH Chapter 1919, Austin, Texas

IN DECEMBER 1943, ENLISTED IN A SPECIALIZED ARMY UNIT AS A SKI TROOPER AND REPORTED FOR DUTY ON APRIL 10, 1943. AFTER BASIC TRAINING NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS SCHOOL AT CAMP HALE, COLORADO, HOME OF THE ARMY MOUNTAIN TRAINING CENTER AND AIRBORNE HE WAS SENT TO EUROPE. ARRIVED ON D-DAY AND WAS ASSIGNED TO THE 82 AIRBORNE DIVISION, 505TH PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT, KNOWN AS THE 'DEVILS IN BAGGY PANTS.' ON SEPTEMBER 17, 1944, MADE HIS FIRST COMBAT JUMP INTO HOLLAND, OPERATION MARKET GARDEN, THE LARGEST AIR ASSAULT IN HISTORY. AFTERWARDS THEY WERE MOVED INTO FRANCE TO OPPOSE THE GERMAN ADVANCE INTO THE ST. VITH AREA, AT THE BEGINNING OF THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE. BY MARCH 1945 THE ALLIES WERE CROSSING THE RHINE RIVER. THEY WERE SENT FORWARD TO CUT OFF THE GERMANS THAT WERE TRYING TO BREAK OUT OF THE 'RHUR POCKET.' ON APRIL 2, THEY TOOK UP POSITIONS ALONG THE RHINE RIVER AND BEGAN SENDING PATROLS ACROSS TO PROVIDE COVERING FIREPOWER. ON APRIL 4, 1945 HE WAS PART OF A 24 MAN PATROL THAT CROSSED THE RIVER. HE WAS IN THE SECOND BOAT THAT WENT ASHORE ABOUT 50 YARDS DOWN STREAM. THEY MOVED OUT IN SINGLE FILE WHEN A LAND MINE EXPLODED, CAUSING A CHAIN REACTION OF EXPLODING LAND MINES AND HE WAS WOUNDED. HE WAS STILL HOSPITALIZED WHEN THE GERMAN 21ST ARMY SURRENDERED TO THE 82ND AIRBORNE AND REMAINED HOSPITALIZED FOR SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER THE WAR ENDED. DISCHARGED ON NEW YEAR'S EVE, 1945 AT CAMP GRANT, ILLINOIS. SOME OF THE BATTLES IN WHICH HE SERVED WERE: NORMANDY, ARDENNES, RHINELAND AND CENTRAL EUROPE.