Edgar C. Erickson
Edgar C. Erickson | |
|---|---|
 Major General Edgar C. Erickson as NGB Chief | |
| Born | July 18, 1896 Worcester, Massachusetts |
| Died | March 31, 1989 (aged 92) Rutland, Massachusetts |
| Place of burial | Worcester County Memorial Park, Paxton, Massachusetts |
| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Service |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1914 - 1959 |
| Rank |  Major General |
| Unit | Massachusetts Army National Guard National Guard Bureau |
| Commands | 181st Infantry Regiment Massachusetts Army National Guard Chief of the National Guard Bureau |
| Battles / wars | Pancho Villa Expedition World War I World War II |
| Awards | Distinguished Service Medal (U.S. Army) Legion of Merit Bronze Star Medal |
| Other work | Businessman State legislator State reform school superintendent |
Edgar C. Erickson (July 18, 1896—March 31, 1989) was a United States Army Major General who served as Chief of the National Guard Bureau.
Early life
Edgar Carl Erickson was born in Worcester, Massachusetts on July 18, 1896, and was educated in the schools of Worcester.[1]
Pancho Villa Expedition
In April, 1914 Erickson enlisted in Company H. 2nd Massachusetts Infantry. In 1916 he served with his unit on the Mexican border during the Pancho Villa Expedition.[2]
World War I
Erickson was a Sergeant when he received his commission a Second Lieutenant in 1917. He served with 2nd Battalion 104th Infantry Regiment, 26th Infantry Division in France during World War I.[3]
Post World War I
After the war Erickson became a partner in Erickson Steel, a company formed to produce prefabricated buildings.[4] He later worked as General Manager of Worcester’s Hedlund Coal Company.[5]
In 1932 he graduated from the United States Army Command and General Staff College.[6]
A Republican, he served in the Massachusetts State Senate from 1933 to 1936.[7][8] He subsequently served as Superintendent of the Worcester County Training School.[9]
Having maintained his membership in the National Guard, by 1939 Erickson had risen to Colonel and Commander of the 181st Infantry Regiment.[10]
World War II
Erickson served as the Adjutant General of Massachusetts from 1939 to 1942 with the rank of Brigadier General.[11]
In 1940 he was also called to federal service as the Director of Selective Service for Massachusetts.[12]
In 1942 Erickson accepted a reduction to Colonel in order to serve in uniform overseas. He was assigned as liaison officer to the Chinese Nationalist Army for the remainder of the war.[13][14]
Post World War II
After the war Erickson was assigned to the National Guard Bureau. His assignments included: Chief of the Infantry Regulations Branch; Chief of Plans; Acting Chief of the Army Division; and Acting Deputy Chief of the National Guard Bureau.[15][16]
In 1953 Erickson was appointed Chief of the National Guard Bureau, and he served until his 1959 retirement.[17][18]
As NGB Chief, Erickson oversaw an increase in authorized personnel strength and a corresponding recruiting effort to fill the positions, as well as the fielding of the first jet fighters for units of the Air National Guard and the fielding of modern tanks for the Army National Guard’s Armor units.[19][20]
Awards and Decorations
Erickson’s awards included the Distinguished Service Medal (U.S. Army), Legion of Merit, and Bronze Star Medal.[21]
Retirement and death
In retirement Erickson resided in Worcester and Sun City, Arizona. He died in Rutland Massachusetts’ Holden Nursing Home on March 31, 1989 and was buried at Worcester County Memorial Park in Paxton.[22]
Legacy
The Erickson Trophy is awarded annually to the distinguished graduates of each of the state National Guard Officer Candidate Schools. The actual trophy and an inscribed list of recipients is maintained on display at National Guard Bureau, with replicas presented to each winner.[23]
Family
In 1920 he married Nancy I. Sundstrom (1898-1982). They had one son, Russell, who died in 1987.[24]
References
- ^ Army and Navy Journal Inc., Army, Navy, Air Force Journal, Volume 90, Issues 27-52, 1953, page 1308
- ^ New York Times, Gen. Erickson to End Long Career in Guard, May 2, 1959
- ^ Massachusetts Adjutant General, Annual Report, 1921, page 1902
- ^ The Iron Trade Review, Construction and Enterprise: East of the Mississippi River, Volume 70, February 2, 1922
- ^ Domestic Engineering and the Journal of Mechanical Contracting, Volume 143, 1934, page 94
- ^ United States Army Adjutant General, Official U.S. Army Register, 1957, page 257
- ^ Christian Science Monitor, Election Cost Averted As Senator Keeps Seat, November 19, 1935
- ^ Boston Globe, F. D. Election Flood Still Rising, November 5, 1936
- ^ Christian Science Monitor, New Threat Offered Massachusetts G.O.P., October 26, 1935
- ^ Boston Globe, New Regiments at Cape Camp, July 26, 1937
- ^ Boston Globe, Gen. Erickson Awaits Call to Active Service, May 29, 1942
- ^ Christian Science Monitor, Erickson to Direct Army Service Draft, September 13, 1940
- ^ Christian Science Monitor, Colonel Keville Takes Office As State's Adjutant General, April 13, 1943
- ^ The National Guardsman, Guard Bureau Chief Retires, Volume 13, 1959, page 4
- ^ United States Civil Service Commission, Official Register of the United States, 1952, page 118
- ^ United States Senate Appropriations Committee, Hearing Reports, 1951, page 1131
- ^ New York Times, Taylor is Named to Four-Star Rank; Eisenhower Also Nominates Colonel Erickson to Head National Guard Bureau, June 11, 1953
- ^ Hartford Courant, McGowan Nominated As Guard Bureau Chief, July 7, 1959
- ^ New York Times, 200 a Day Joining New Guard Plan, March 10, 1957
- ^ Los Angeles Times, 50,000 Airmen to Take Part in Field Training, February 15, 1954
- ^ Rep. Harold D. Donahue, Massachusetts Salutes Maj. Gen. Edgar C. Erickson: Extension of Remarks, Congressional Record, 1959, page 12361
- ^ Worcester Telegram & Gazette, Obituary, Edgar C. Erickson, April 1, 1989
- ^ National Guard Regulation 672-1, Trophies and Awards Program for the Army National Guard, Erickson Trophy, 2012, Chapter 12, page 14
- ^ Worcester Telegram & Gazette, Obituary, Edgar C. Erickson, April 1, 1989
External References
- 1896 births
- 1989 deaths
- People from Worcester, Massachusetts
- Massachusetts Republicans
- Massachusetts State Senators
- United States Army Command and General Staff College alumni
- American military personnel of World War I
- American military personnel of World War II
- American militia generals
- United States Army generals
- National Guard of the United States officers
- Chiefs of the National Guard Bureau
- Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (United States)
- Recipients of the Legion of Merit
- Recipients of the Bronze Star Medal
- People from Rutland, Massachusetts
- 20th-century American politicians