A document that my grandfather Frank Gustaf Severin Erickson retained from the State Of North Dakota (Office Of The Adjutant General - Division of War Records) dated June 17, 1933. It specifically notes Frank's Army service record from his days overseas in service with the American Expeditionary Force between August 8, 1918 through April 28th, 1919.

Frank started his military training at Camp Upton in Yaphank (Long Island) in Suffolk County, New York. The Division shipped out to France on August 8th, 1918 where Frank would serve on the Western Front.

Frank served with the 308th Regiment - 77th Division - Company H. He shipped out of Brooklyn (NYC) Port aboard the transport Steamer Nestor to England and then onto France. He was fortunate to become a "surviving" member of what would be referred to as "The Lost Battalion." Beginning on October 2nd when the Division was surrounded by the Germans and ended October 8th when a handful of survivors were able to escape.

The Lost Battalion, the name given to the nine companies of the United States 77th Division of the American Expeditionary Force, consisted of 554 men that were surrounded by German forces in the Argonne Forest in France between October 2nd through the 8th of 1918. Roughly 197 were killed in battle and approximately 150 went missing in action and or were taken prisoner. Only 194 remaining men walked out alive.