m  a  r  k    e  r  i  c  k  s  o  n    p  a  i  n  t  i  n  g  s


Frank Severin Erickson
Ernest Julius Erickson
Andrew Anders Sebran Erickson
American Expeditionary Force 1918 - 1919
Out West & North Dakota

Soon after the US involvement (April 1917) in the war in Europe, Company "A" of the North Dakota Infantry of the American Expeditionary Force was formed. The Dakota men shown here are lined up at attention in downtown Wilton and are encircled by dozens of the local residents.

Many of the soldiers were local boys and were friends of my grandfather Frank and his brothers Ernest Julius, Helmer Erick Olaf and Anders (Andrew-Andy) Sebran Erickson.

The men of Company A received their orders and headed east to Camp Mills in New York for debarkation to England in late 1917. They shipped out of Brooklyn Harbor and ported in Liverpool. Upon their arrival in England the men were off by train to rendezvous with ships on the English coast. Crossing the English Channel towards France, the men knew sooner or later they would be joining up with their infantry on the Western Front.

In the background you can see the Wilton Pool Hall, which my uncle, Ernest Julius Erickson (pictured below) was the proprietor before he headed west in 1917. Ernest Julius joined the American Expeditionary Force while he was living in Oregon with his brother Frank G.S. Erickson. The two brothers were working as deputies with the Southern Pacific Railroad out of La Grande at the time. Ernest would serve with the 361st Infantry and Frank with the 308th Infantry in France in 1918.

Photograph by my uncle Helmer Erick Olaf Erickson

Wilton, North Dakota's American Legion Post No. 163 is named after Private Louis Ousley, a life time resident of Wilton.

Private Louis Ousley (pictured in photograph) of Company "A" North Dakota Infantry, was not only the first Wilton man to give his life in the war, but was also the first from North Dakota. On February 2nd, 1918, Louis was badly wounded while attending to a fallen officer. He carried him toward safety under enemy shelling when he was hit near his own lines. His fellow comrades brought both men in. Louis died later while being treated and the officer survived.

Private Louis Ousely and my uncle Pfc. Ernest Julius Erickson are buried at Riverview Cemetery (photo below) along the Missouri River at the Louis Ousely American Legion Post No. 163.

Third photograph below of the Riverview Memorial was taken October 8th, 2017 by my cousin Mark Henninger of Bismarck, North Dakota. His grandfather Andrew (Andy) Sebran Erickson is the younger brother of Frank and served in the 101st Aero Squadron in the Air Corps between 1918-1919 also in France.

Thanks to Mark and Tami Henninger for visiting Riverview, taking some exceptional photographs and relaying some useful information about the memorial.


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© Mark Erickson 2017 All rights reserved.

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Contact via Email @ Mark Erickson or visit his website @
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