Edgar C. Erickson

Edgar Carl Erickson was born in Worcester, Massachusetts on July 18, 1896, and was educated in the schools of Worcester.[1]

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]

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]

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, representing Massachusetts Senate's 2nd Worcester district.[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]

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]

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]

Erickson's awards included the Distinguished Service Medal (U.S. Army), Legion of Merit, and Bronze Star Medal.[21]

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]

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]

In 1920 he married Nancy I. Sundstrom (1898–1982). They had one son, Russell, who died in 1987.[24]

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• Edgar C. Erickson at Find a Grave