John P. Erickson

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.

John P. Erickson
Civil War era Navy Medal of Honor
BornJune 30, 1825
Sweden
DiedAugust 2, 1907 (aged 81–82)
Brooklyn, New York, US
Place of burial
Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, New York
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branchUnited States Navy
RankCaptain of the Forecastle
UnitUnited States NavyUSS Pontoosuc
Battles/warsAmerican Civil War
 • Wilmington Campaign
AwardsMedal of Honor

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 USS Pontoosuc 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.[3][4]

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.[3][4]

Erickson died on August 2, 1907, at age 82 and was buried at Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn.[3]


See also

Notes
  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.
  3. Hall of Valor (2020).
  4. USARCMH (2009).

References
  • "John P. Erickson - Recipient". The Hall of Valor Project. Sightline Media Group. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  • "Civil War (Recipients A-F)". Medal of Honor Recipients. US Army Center of Military History. Archived from the original on 2009-08-06. Retrieved August 6, 2009.


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