Ahnentafel #6 Harold Erkman

Harold Edward Erkman

Born:  June 23, 1916 Wayne City, IL
Died:  February 11, 1944 killed in action near Monte Casino Abbey, Italy

Buried: 1st U.S. Military Cemetery, Nettuno, Italy, 1944; 2nd Thomason Cemetery, Wayne City, IL 1948 


Marriage:  April 21, 1939 Iva Jewell Colclasure in Henderson, KY.  

Occupation: Harold worked as a mechanic Catepillar in Peoria, IL

Military Service:  Army 1935 - 1938 Ft. Knox, KY,  reenlisted Oct. 1940 in East St. Louis, IL, see below.
Census: 

1920 #220 Noble Street, Anderson, IN, Harold living with parents Henry & Edna Erkman and family members: Ernest & Sophia Jordan, Freda Jordan and Lonnie & Anna Wheeler, Harold was 3 years old

1930 Wayne Co., IL Harold living with his grandparents James & Lou Gurley.  He was 13.

Edna Gurley, Trixie & Harold Erkman

1935 claimed to be living in Peoria, IL in the 1940 census, this wasn't true, see below.  I suspect Harold's landlord gave information on his behalf to the census as Iva was in the hospital when the census was taken.

1940 living in Peoria, IL 1019 Perry Street, Peoria, IL with wife Iva, working as a mechanic for Caterpillar.  He was 23 years old.  

1942 - Sept. 25 - Fort Knox, Kentucky - Harold received a certificate for satisfactory completion of Armored Force School at Ft. Knox.  It reads:

This certifies that Private Harold E. Erkman, Wheeled Vehicle Department has completed satisfactorily the prescribed course* in teacher training, and is authorized to teach such classes and in such department as assigned in the Armored Force School.  This is a Certificate of Obligation & Responsibility to maintain a high standard of instructional performance and is therefore revocable upon order of the Commandant of the Armored Force School.  Signed Lt. Col. Verne Fryklund, Dept. Director &  Brigadier General S.G. Henry, Commandant.  

* One hour per day, 6 days per week, 12 weeks. Subjects: Human Relations, Trade Analysis, Teaching Procedures, Evaluation of Procedures.  

1944 - April 8 - U.S. Army issued a purple heart to Private First Class Harold E. Erkman, A.S. No. 6659052.  Just one of the 1,076,245 issued during World War II.  Signed by U.S. Adjutant General James Ulio and Secretary of War Henry Stinson. 

1949- Feb. 28 - Official Statement of the Military Service and Death of Harold E. Erkman, Army Serial Number 6 659 052

The official records show that Harold E. Erkman Army serial number 6 659 052, was enlisted in the Regular Army 1 August 1935 at Fort Knox, Kentucky, at which time he gave as his home address 602 Walnut Street, Evansville, Indiana, and was honorably discharged 31 July 1938 at Fort Knox, Kentucky.  He was again enlisted in the Regular Army 15 October 1940 at East St. Louis, Illinois, at which time he gave his home address Wayne City, Illinois.  He departed for overseas service 9 June 1943, and was killed in action 11 February 1944, in Italy, while serving as a private first class, Company A, 157th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division.

This official statement furnished 28 February 1949 to Mrs. Edna M. Erkman, mother, 602 Walnut Street, Evansville 9, Indiana.  See also Research Notes - Harold Erkman

By authority of the Secretary of the Army:

Edward F. Witsell
Major General
The Adjutant General

Countersigned:
Allen B. Majors
Adjutant General

Children:
Trixie Erkman md. Bill Lathrop

Revised 1/6/2022