Erickson Vernon A.

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Vernon A. Erickson is honored on the following 1 monument(s) in our database:

Battling Bastards Of Bataan Monument

Name:

Vernon A. Erickson

Rank:

Staff Sergeant

Serial Number:

6913591

Unit:

20th Pursuit Squadron

Date of Death:

1942-06-14

State:

Illinois

Cemetery:

Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines

Plot:

Walls of the Missing

Row:

Grave:

Decoration:

Comments:

Vernon A. Erickson was born on March 4, 1913. He served in the 20th Pursuit Squadron, 24th Pursuit Group, as a Staff Sergeant during World War II.

After the fall of Bataan in the hands of the Japanese Army on April 9, 1942, SSgt Erickson was one of the 10,000 to 12,000 Americans who were forced to march over 60 miles under brutal conditions, resulting in 1,000 to 5,000 deaths due to starvation, dehydration, and abuse. Survivors were sent to Camp O'Donnell, where dire conditions, including overcrowding, malnutrition, and disease, caused an additional 1,500 to 2,300 American deaths within weeks. Those who survived faced ongoing hardships, including transfers to other camps and forced labor, where many continued to suffer or die.

SSgt Erickson was reported missing and officially declared dead on June 14, 1942. His name is memorialized in the Walls of the Missing in the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines.

Source of information:www.livescience.com