Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1918-03-27
WARREN SOLDIER
DIES SOMEWHERE
IN FRANCE"
Joseph G. Ericksohis the First One on
the Casualty List From
This Place.

49,.
htJoseph G. Erickson. son of Mr.. and
Mrs Gotfrid Erickson. old and well
known residents of this city. On Mon
Gay AFTERNOON this week Mrs. Erick-
son, the mother, received the following
heart breaking message:
Washington. d. c.. March %, 1918.
Amanda Erickson.
Warren, MINI.
Deeply regret to inform YOU that it
IS officially reported that Private LIST
Glass Joseph G. Erickson, ENGINEERS.
died March seventeenth, cause unde-
termined
MCCAIN.
The Adjutant General.
AS is seen. the telegram left the par
ents entirely in the dark as to the
manner in which Joseph came to his
death. In the casualty list published
IN the daily papers on Tuesday it is
also stated that he "died of cause I'M
known. Joseph went to France with
the same convoy that brought Secre-
tary OF War Baker there. hence had
been across but two weeks when his
death occurred. Only postal card
written on the day he reached France
has been received from him. If his
death was caused by enemy action he
must have been taken to the firing line
Immediately upon landing But
whether death was caused by hostile
s~shot or shell, by mere accident, or by
deadly disease, is not known at this
writing and it matters not The all
important fact we know, that Joseph
&. Erickson. the Warren soldier boy
died in the service Of his country and
valiantly did his duty.
Joseph was born on a farm near
Warren Aug. ?, 1895. hence was only
% years, months and Is days at the
time of death. His boyhood and youth
was spent in the peaceful environs of
our fair little city. Here he was
baptized. attended the public schools
and Sunday School. Here he was
confirmed in the Swedish Lutheran
church by Rev. f. O. Chelgren. form
er pastor of the church. He graduated
North Star College in the spring of
1914. Since his graduation from that
institution and even before that time
during the summer months. he assisted
his father with his work as a road
builder and contractor =
Thus smoothly and serelfely flowed
the life of Joseph G. Erickson until
April 6 last year, when the United
States entered the European war and
began calling for volunteers. Joseph
with his intense patriotism, and with,
fighting Viking blood in his veins and
possessing also an adventurous spirit,
was not satisfied with being a passive
onlooker when his country twas in
danger. He was no longer content
with his commonplace job of building
roads in Marshall county. He listened
to his country's call and was among
the first bunch of boys from Warren
to enlist in Company I. of Crook
ston, early last summer. He went with
his company to the training camp at
Camp Cody, New Mexico, where he re-
NAMED until few months ago when
he was transferred to the engineers
corps, ordered to Washington. D. c..
and then to France on the same trans
port that brought Secretary Baker to
Europe
To die in a strange land among
strangers, more than four thousand
miles away from home, and without a
mothers sweet voice to cheer or sOOth-
:. ing hand to stroke his fevered brow.
Fand without a father standing by to
encourage him in his last big fight,
such was the fate of Joseph G. Erick-
son. But it may be that God in his
mercy took him away so soon after his
arrival in order to save him from a
more terrible ordeal and the gruesome
and sickening sights that later in the
week were witnessed on the fair fields
of France. That thoughts of home and
friends in Warren did come to him, in
case he had time to think at all before
being ushered into eternity, is most
certain. Had Joseph died at home, he
would have been missed of course by
those nearest and dearest to him for a
short time only, that would have been
ALL Now his name will be enrolled for
all time on the scroll Of the nations
brave defenders. His memory will al
(, ways be cherished in Warren as the
first young man from the city to die
for his country on foreign soil. His
dust is now moldering in the blood
drenched soil of France. May the
fairest lilies and roses of France be-
deck the place where he rests. But
here in Warren the memory Of Joseph
G. Erickson will always be held in
grateful remembrance. He was War
ren boy who did his duty. Of him it
may be well said:
when duty whispers low Thou must!
The youth replies, I cant y
The immediate mourners of the de-