This document dated May 28th, 1919 clears up all the stories, rumors and myths about the unfortunate passing of my uncle Ernest Julius Alfred Erickson. He fell to a German sniper's bullet in the Argonne Forest in France on October 10th, 1918, even though this document incorrectly states, October 11th, as the date.

Ernest Julius was with the 361st Infantry of the 91st Division, serving in Company C, and had been in the intelligence section of the First Battalion through both Argonne drives in the Fall of 1918.

He had also been a scout, sniper, observer, runner and was a long-time expert riflemen starting at a very young age. As this document attests, "No matter what we had to do, it was always the same with him. He was one of the gamest men in the regiment, and one of the most willing."

Starting at the 4th paragraph, the report by fellow soldier, Pvt. Jesse A. Keene clearly spells it out quite graphically. Nothing more can really be said, just the frank words spelling out the sad end of Ernest Julius.

From all I have read and the stories told by people that knew Ernest Julius, he was a very special, unique man, who loved to write and sought adventure to his twilight.

Third image below was taken at the Riverview Memorial Cemetery, west of Wilton, North Dakota. A place not far from the Missouri River where my uncle Ernest Julius Erickson rests in peace.