1LT William Forssell Ericson, II, Roxbury, CT on www.VirtualWall.org The Virtual Wall® Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall

WILLIAM FORSSELL EBICSON II was born in New York City, the son of Emily Rosaria (Pottetti) and Richard Forssell Ericson. He was named for his father's brother, a US Marine Corps fighter pilot who had been killed in an aviation accident off the coast of North Carolina five months before Bill's birth.

Bill was an enlisted man, a Noncommissioned Officer, a cadet, an officer, a rifleman, a senior paratrooper, a pathfinder, a jungle expert, and a Combat Infantryman. He did not want to be "known" as any of these - he just wanted to be known as a "soldier."

Bill, although not an Army brat, did hear "Army talk" in his formative years. The first house he lived in was on post at Fort Totten, New York, where his father was stationed following service with the 10th Mountain Division; but the family returned to civilian life when he was two years old. They lived on Staten Island, New York, and Long Island until Bill was twelve. They then moved to a lakeside home in Connecticut where they stayed for a year prior to buying the property in semi-rural Roxbury, Connecticut, where his parents still lived in the spring of 1971.

Left to Right: Lisa, Bill, and Richard with Mother Emily and Father Richard

After graduating from high school in 1961, Bill reported to Fort Dix, New Jersey, for his basic and advanced infantry training. He completed the last Jump School Course given at Fort Bragg, getting his wings on 8 December 1961. Bill then joined the 504th Infantry of the 82d Airborne Division where he stayed until he entered the U. S. Military Academy Preparatory School at Fort Belvoir.

Bill won one of twenty-four Regular Army appointments to the Academy. Frequently during his four years at the Academy cadets were asked, "Where are you from?" Some would answer Florida, or California, or Idaho, or Tennessee. Bill Ericson would say, "I'm from the United States Army." He considered himself to be a representative of the Army at West Point, and felt that everything he did, or didn't do, reflected on the Army he loved so much.

In his yearling year, Bill met Clare Conlan from Long Island. She was representing the Balfour Company, and Bill was Chairman of the Ring and Crest Committee. Clare managed to penetrate his rough, military exterior and provide just the contrast he needed to help him through some very difficult cadet days.

The 4th Regiment of the Corps came into existence during Bill's Plebe Year. By the time he became it's Cadet Commander, all transferees from other regiments were gone. With the guidance of his Army counterpart, Colonel Simpson, Bill shaped the regiment into an overall cohesive unit which seemed to have a knack for excelling in everything from sports to academics.

USMA 4th Regiment Cadet Commander, 1968

On 9 June 1968, Second Lieutenant William F. Ericson II and Clare Conlan were married in the Chapel of the Most Holy Trinity at West Point. They honeymooned in the Bahamas and upon returning from the islands, Bill and Clare moved into his family home in Connecticut (His parents were living in New York).

On 17 April 1969, he was presented with his diploma certifying completion of the Pathfinder Course at Fort Benning. His pre-Vietnam assignment was that of Pathfinder Officer of the 82d Airborne Division.

2LT Bill Ericson proudly wears his pathfinder badge

Originally scheduled to leave for Vietnam on 15 July 1969, the day he was killed, Bill volunteered to leave early, and departed on 15 May 1969. He wanted an assignment as an Infantry Platoon Leader with either the 1st Infantry Division or 173rd Airborne Brigade. He was assigned to Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry, 173rd Airborne Brigade.

Bill with unknown Friend

On 14 July 1969, the day before his death, Bill wrote, "Our old AO is pacified. As I left the valley it was memorable to look across those beautiful rice paddies with their quaint unique farmers and characteristic water buffalo and note the development of the area in the few short months that we were operating in it. There is little or no fear that the VC will steal the rice and use the farmers for forced labor or recruitment into the VC force. The Vietnamese Army is now in force and can provide the security we won for them."

Bill with ARVN Regular Soldier

Bill with Montagnard

"Now - it's combat assault time. The entire company is back at LZ Uplift preparing for an aerial combat assault into an area known as the Crescent Valley."

Bill standing in what appears to be B52 Bomb Crater

Bill wrote several letters in the three or four days preceding his death, detailing his comprehension of the necessity of his unit's action to support a mechanized infantry outfit unable to defend itself because of immobility in terrain requiring aggressive action by foot-soldiers to combat the enemy.

The following General Orders 826, for the award of his Silver Star, describes how he died:

Bill's medals were presented to Clare during a ceremony at West Point arranged by the 4th Regiment. It was attended by a large group of Academy personnel of all ranks, and by many friends and relatives. Included in the medals below were two awarded by the South Vietnamese Government: The National Order of Vietnam, Knight (5th Class) and Gallantry Cross with Palm (Individual Award).

1Lt William Forssell Ericson was survived by his wife, Clare Conlan Ericson, his mother Emily Rosaria (Pottetti) Ericson (1916-1995), his father Richard Forssell "Dick" Ericson (1916-1988), brother Richard Forssell "Smoky" Ericson Jr (1942-1992) and sister Lisa.

He was buried in the cemetery at the United States Military Academy, West Point, New York with full military honors. When it was learned that Bill was to be buried at West Point, the cadets of the 4th Regiment on duty at New Cadet Barracks asked if they might form an honor guard. They did, and a large contingent of them, on their own time, led the procession from the Catholic Chapel to the cemetery. They placed a wreath on the grave. Bill had not left them. In the Spring of 1971, the West Point Association of Graduates published a Memorial Article written by William Ericson's classmate, Horst G. Sperber.