William Erickson Jr.

y Grandfather William Erickson Jr. was drafted on January 28, 1944 in the Army. On February 18, 1944 he was assigned active service in the Army. He reported to Fort Sheridan, IL for orders and was sent to Camp Stewart, Georgia for basic training in Anti-Aircraft Artillery. While in Georgia he was a Private. In Georgia my grandpa loaded cannons (Anti-Aircraft Artillery guns) While growing ulp he told my mom, my sister and I he had Maneuvers in Portland, Oregon. I can't find out when. After he left Camp Stewart in Mid June 1944 he was sent to Camp Forrest, Tennessee. While in Camp Forrest, Tennessee he received more training at the P.O.W, camp at Camp Forrest. While at Camp Forrest he was a Seargeant. In late June 1944 he was sent to Camp Huntsville, Alabama P.O.W. camp where he served as a Guard for German P.O.W.S. His rank was a corporal. He was stationed at Camp Huntsville, Alabama P.O.W. camp till December 6, 1945 when his rank dropped to private and was sent back to Camp Stewart, Georgia for Cooks School. The last unit my Grandfather William Erickson Jr. was in was the 1457 SCU POWC at Camp Forrest, Tennessee in December 1945 through winter 1946. He was a cook and cooked for POWS. He was discharged on April 25, 1946 at Fort Sheridan, IL as a Tec 5.