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Casualty Info
Home Town Los Angeles, CA
Last Address Los Angeles, CA
Casualty Date Oct 25, 1944
Cause KIA-Body Not Recovered
Reason Other Explosive Device
Location Pacific Ocean
Conflict World War II
Location of Interment Manila American Cemetery and Memorial - Manila, Philippines
Wall/Plot Coordinates (cenotaph)
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
On October 25, 1944, the USS Hoel (DD-533) was engaged with Japanese warships during the Battle of Samar. A slightly past 0700, gunfire hit the bridge and knocked out radio contact; however, the men fought on. After sustaining over 40 hits from various weaponry, the final running engine was knocked out of service. With one engine room under water and the Number 1 magazine ablaze, the commanding officer ordered the men to abandon ship. The Hoel sank at 0855. S1c Erickson was among the 253 officers and men who were lost. His remains were not recovered and he was later declared dead.
Comments/Citation:
Service number: 8781691
Although many sources have S1c Erickson listed as only S2c (Seaman 2nd Class), the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency has him listed as S!c so that is the rank used throughout this profile.
The information contained in this profile was compiled from various internet sources.
Western Caroline Islands Operation/Battle of Peleliu
From Month/Year
September / 1944
To Month/Year
October / 1944
Description The Battle of Peleliu, codenamed Operation Stalemate II, was fought between the United States and the Empire of Japan in the Pacific Theater of World War II, from September–November 1944 on the island of Peleliu, present-day Palau. U.S. Marines of the First Marine Division and later soldiers of the U.S. Army's 81st Infantry Division, fought to capture an airstrip on the small coral island. This battle was part of a larger offensive campaign known as Operation Forager which ran from June–November 1944 in the Pacific Theater of Operations.
Major General William Rupertus, USMC—commander of 1st Marine Division—predicted the island would be secured within four days. However, due to Japan's well-crafted fortifications and stiff resistance, the battle lasted over two months. In the United States, it was a controversial battle because of the island's questionable strategic value and the high casualty rate, which exceeded all other amphibious operations during the Pacific War. The National Museum of the Marine Corps called it "the bitterest battle of the war for the Marines".
