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
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October 10th, 2018 100 years ago today Ernest Julius was killed by a sniper while on a mission during the Meuse Argonne Offensive. From everything I know of EJ he was an one-of-a-kind man. He was a writer, an adventurer and surely would have had a most interesting life, had he made it back home in 1919. The three diaries below are well worth reading. His final diary entries that commences on September 26th, 1918, the very beginning of the Meuse Argonne Offensive is quite poignant. It ends rather suddenly in mid sentence just shortly before his unfortunate passing on the battlefield in France. Ernest Julius's death was witnessed by a fellow soldier, Pvt. Jesse A. Keene, who was heading for cover just ahead of Pvt. Erickson, seconds before EJ was shot. Keene's report is below. My father, Ernest Anders was named after his uncle EJ. My grandfather Frank was with the 308th Infantry during the war and was a very fortunate survivor of the 'Lost Battalion' (Oct 2nd - 8th, 1918). Frank and Ernest Julius were very close and Frank honored his fallen brother by naming his son the same name. When Ernest Julius and Frank joined the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) in Oregon in May of 1917, their plans spread out far beyond the war. Future travels out west when they returned were talked about. At the time both were Oregon Railroad Deputies and a photograph of EJ is below from that time. Ernest Julius was buried at Riverview Memorial Cemetery in Wilton, North Dakota. A photograph of his headstone is attached below along with information on Riverview in the link below. Today is a solemn day for those that remember Ernest Julius from the various family stories told over the many years. Ernest Julius Erickson's life has fascinated me since I first heard about him from my father when I was a boy. I thought of Ernest Julius as a pretty cool guy. He lived long enough to make an impression on many. In the mix of history when time and memory adjust and legends and myths percolate, family elders like Ernest Julius are recalled with reverence. How he lived and how he passed become the legend that my father had to deal with being named after his uncle. To me considerable awe is bestowed when I ponder his writings and photographs. His handsome face etched in my consciousness. All the family and friends that personally knew Ernest Julius are gone, yet I have made it my mission to accommodate a rebirth for my uncle. To those interested, they can read his writings and gaze on the photographs. His image so real to me, I often feel he communicates with me as I work on this 'Family Archive Project.' In that sense Ernest Julius lives on and all that he accomplished in his 29 years of life will not be forgotten. |
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