Pvt. Paul Erickson Killed on Luzon
Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Erickson of Colfax township received word Thursday of last week that their son, Pvt. Paul Erickson, had been killed in action on Luzon, Philippine Islands, April 28, 1945.
No further details were given by the war department in the message received by Mr. and Mrs. Erickson.
Pvt. Erickson had been in service about three years, and he had not been home on furlough since he was inducted.
Source: Pocahontas Record-Democrat, May 31, 1945, pg. 1
Killed In Action
Pvt. Paul Erickson
Above is a picture of Pvt. Paul Erickson who was killed in action on Luzon, Philippine Islands, April 28. Available details were given in last week's issue of the Record-Democrat. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Erickson, reside in Colfax township. Pvt. Erickson had been in service about three years.
Source: Pocahontas Record-Democrat, June 7, 1945, pg. 2 (photo included)
Services Sunday Afternoon for Pfc. Paul R. Erickson
Rev. E.V. Carlson Gave Memorial Address; Voss Post Participated In Service
Memorial services were held Sunday afternoon at the Mission Covenant Church in Colfax township for Pfc. Paul R. Erickson, who was killed in action April 29 on Luzon, Philippine Islands. Miss Elsie Blomberg played a prelude of organ music after which the colors were advanced by Voss Post The American Legion of Pomeroy.
Preceding the Memorial message by the pastor, Rev. E.V. Carlson, Misses Blomberg and Edith Swalin and Mrs. Fred L. Dahlin sang "Only Glory Bye and Bye" and following the message Mrs. Kermit Welander sang "Abide With Me."
At the close of the service an American flag was presented to the parents of Pfc. Erickson.
Paul Reuben Erickson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Erickson was born at Pomeroy, Oct. 31, 1919. He was baptized in infancy and was confirmed in the Evangelical Lutheran church at Petersburg, Minn., Dec. 16, 1934. Following his graduation from the high school at Petersburg he attended the Estherville Junior college at Estherville, Iowa.
He was inducted into military service July 9, 1942, and received his military training at Camp Robinson, Ark., and Camp Butner, N.C. He went overseas in January 1943 and was stationed in Australia, New Guinea, Dutch East India, Leyte and Luzon. Following his death near Imugan, Pangasinan Province, Luzon, P.I., he was buried at Santa Barbara military cemetery on Luzon.
Pfc. Erickson is survived by his parents, two brothers, Carl and Bernhard and three sisters, Naomi, Darlene and Dorothy. One brother, Floyd, preceded him in death several years ago.
Among those from a distance attending the memorial services were Mr. and Mrs. Herman Gonlund of Spirit Lake, Mrs. Oscar Johnson and son Harold of Estherville and Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Anderson and family of Triumph, Minn.
Source: Pocahontas Record-Democrat, June 21, 1945, pg. 1
Paul R. Erickson was born Oct. 31, 1919 to Einar J. and Alice A. Erickson. He died Apr. 29, 1945 and is buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, Estherville, IA.
Pvt. Erickson served in World War II with the U.S. Army 178th Infantry, 32nd Red Arrow Division, 8th Army. He was fatally wounded on a mopping up operation with the infantry on Luzon, Philippines.
Source: ancestry.com
