World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
Herbert Leif Erickson
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
Brookings County, South Dakota
Honored By
Grateful American
ENTERED SERVICE IN 1941 WITH THE SOUTH DAKOTA NATIONAL GUARD. TRAINED AT CAMP CLAIBORNE AND CAMP POLK, LOUISIANA; AND FORT KNOX, KENTUCKY. SERVED WITH THE 8TH ARMORED DIVISION, 36TH TANK BATTALION IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS. TANK COMMANDER OF A M4A3 SHERMAN TANK. WAS KILLED IN ACTION ON 5 MARCH 1945 AT RHEINBERG, GERMANY. POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART MEDAL. RECOMMENDED FOR THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS MEDAL FOR HIS COURAGEOUS ACTION OF THE HIGHEST TRADITION OF AN OFFICER OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY. HE IS BURIED AT THE NATIONAL CEMETERY, KEOKUK, IOWA.