John P. Erickson Explained

John P. Erickson
Birth Date:June 30, 1825
Death Date:August 2,
Birth Place:Sweden
Death Place:Brooklyn, New York, US
Placeofburial:Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, New York
Placeofburial Label:Place of burial
Allegiance:United States
Branch:United States Navy
Rank:Captain of the Forecastle
Battles:American Civil War
Wilmington Campaign
Awards:Medal of Honor

John P. Erickson (June 30, 1825 – August 2, 1907) was a Union Navy sailor in the American Civil War and a recipient of the U.S. military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions during the Wilmington Campaign.

Born in 1825 in Sweden,[1] [2] Erickson immigrated to the U.S. and was living in Brooklyn when he joined the Navy. He served as a captain of the forecastle on the in the Wilmington Campaign, from the First Battle of Fort Fisher on December 24, 1864, through the campaign's end on February 22, 1865. He was severely wounded and received treatment at a hospital in Portsmouth, Virginia. For his actions during the campaign, he was awarded the Medal of Honor months later on June 22, 1865.

Erickson's official Medal of Honor citation reads:

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Captain of the Forecastle John P. Erickson, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving on board the U.S.S. Pontoosuc during the capture of Fort Fisher and Wilmington, North Carolina, 24 December 1864, to 22 February 1865. Carrying out his duties faithfully throughout this period, Captain of the Forecastle Erickson was so severely wounded in the assault upon Fort Fisher that he was sent to the hospital at Portsmouth, Virginia. Erickson was recommended for his gallantry, skill, and coolness in action while under the fire of the enemy.

Erickson died on August 2, 1907, at age 82 and was buried at Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn.

See also

References

External links

Notes and References

  1. "John P. Erickson, Case No. 5351" in NARA Record Group 52 Department of the Navy, Records of the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, Naval Hospital Tickets and Case Papers, New York City, p 190. Image 1737/1876, Roll 58, Part 1 New York City (1862-1863).
  2. U.S. Navy also lists his origin as London as Erickson's enlistment listed his birthplace as London, England. This birthplace is counterfactual to all other documents and Erickson almost certainly listed "London" to avoid discrimination in placement and advancement.