William F. Ericson II was born on Staten Island, New York on February 23, 1944. He was my older brother, the middle of three children and the second son. He was a good little boy according to the family. I'm his little sister and wasn't around for those years but I do know he taught me how to tell time by our kitchen clock on Emerson Hill and as a young boy of perhaps 8 or 9, he made the best scrambled eggs I've tasted to this day. I'd lie in bed at night and listen to him sing along to the radio in the next room sounding more like Elvis than Elvis did.
We moved first to Long Island and then to Connecticut where Bill and his brother Richard attended Washington High School in the town of the same name. He was a terrific fisherman from an early age. He was excellent with a rifle and enjoyed hunting with his Dad. Bill did well in school naturally. In high school he lettered in baseball, basketball, soccer. Shortly before his high school graduation, Bill announced that he was going to defer his college education and enlist in the Army. Immediately after graduating from high school in 1961, Bill reported to Fort Dix, NJ, for his basic and advanced infantry training. He completed Jump School at Fort Bragg, NC, getting his wings on 8 December 1961. Bill then joined the 504th Infantry of the 82nd Airborne Division where he stayed until he entered the US Military Academy Prep School at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. Bill then earned one of twenty four Regular Army appointments to the Academy.
His years as a West Point Cadet were marked by many achievements. He loved military strategy and found personal satisfaction as Editor-in-Chief of the 1968 Howitzer yearbook; Chairman of the 1968 Ring and Crest Committee, and, with the approval and support of LTG D. V. Bennett, Superintendent of the Academy, developed a new class history magazine, The Muster. He was the Brigade Open Boxing Champion in 1968. Bill was given command of the first Summer Detail of new cadets and served as aKing of Beastsa for the incoming Class of 1971. He was subsequently the Regimental Commander of the Fourth Regiment, where his leadership instilled a new motto of aStrict, Tough, Military, Proud.a
Bill was loved by his family and his wife, whom he married at West Point shortly after graduation. Bill achieved everything on his own. He was a good person. Heas quoted as saying he would never see 'the enemy' soldier as anything but another human being and said that he would treat any prisoners of war he encountered with respect and care. Growing up and into his Academy days, he loved his two dogs, Nina and Cocoa and was saddened by their loss while he was at West Point. After graduation, and before leaving for Vietnam, Bill got another dog, Velvet, who attended his funeral at West Point. Bill was scheduled to leave for Vietnam on July 15, 1969 but managed to get over there two months early, only to die on July 15th itself. Time goes by and yet I miss Bill more and more. We could have been good friends and enjoyed each other's families. Bill Ericson: Strict, Tough, Military, Proud. (But he was terrified of spiders!) A good boy and a good man. I love you.
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