Richard Erickson was born in Enterprise, Kansas. He entered service in the Coast Guard on November 3, 1940. His service number was 205948. In November 1943 Navy Muster Rolls list him on USS Merrill (DE-392), an Edsall-class destroyer escort in service with the United States Navy from 1943 to 1946. His rank at the time was Rt3c. This usually refers to Radio Technician Third Class. He may have been on the ship to conduct its shakedown cruise. Courtesy fold3.com, newspapers.com.