Harvey Ralph Erickson

Harvey Ralph Erickson was born on February 8, 1906 to Peter and Josephine Erickson in Erickson, Nebraska. The family moved to Spokane, Washington shortly after Erickson's birth.  He attended Washington State College (WSC) from 1929 through 1934, graduating with a Bachelor's degree in Hydraulic Engineering. He married Mary Isabelle Peters and following his graduation from WSC, he worked as a general foreman for Pacific Gas and Electric Company in San Jose, California. Erickson enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces in February 1943 and was commissioned an officer. Initially stationed in San Diego with the 19th Coast Artillery Regiment, he transferred to the 1924th Engineer Aviation Battalion after its formation on July 9, 1944. He was directing the construction of a water pipeline on Okinawa when the car he was traveling in was hit by another Army vehicle on August 18, 1945, three days after Japan's surrender. Erickson suffered a traumatic brain injury, and he succumbed to his injuries on August 23, 1945. He is buried in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) in Honolulu, Hawaii.