4Apr1923 – 20Sep1944
Edison Days
Edward graduated with the Class of June 1941. He played Varsity baseball for 2 years. He was one of the top pitchers his senior year.
Erwin played American Legion Baseball in the summer as well
Ervin’s team won the State Championship and advanced to the regional tournament in Belleville, IL.
They advanced to the championship game and lost 10-0 to a team from Illinois.
Military Service
Rank: Private First Class
Branch: United States Army
Unit: Company L – 3rd Battalion – 319th Regiment – 80th Infantry Division
Ervin was inducted into the Army on 15Feb1943. After basic training, he attended New Mexico A & M college in Los Cruces, NM. as part of the Army Specialized Training Program (ASTP). He completed a 36-week course in basic engineering and graduated in January 1944.
Ervin came home on leave after graduation and got married!
When his leave ended, Ervin was sent to England. It is unknown if he joined the 319th Infantry Regiment at that time, or if he joined the unit as a replacement soldier when they were already in France.
On 20Sep1944 Ervin and Company L found themselves camped 2 miles NE of Ste. Genevieve, France. with the mission to attack and occupy the towns of Benicourt and Clemery approximately 2 miles East. Company L was the lead unit of the 3rd Battalion and both battalions were in contact with the enemy from 1045 to 1500 but due to heavy enemy resistance and enemy artillery fire was forced to withdraw to their original positions.
During this engagement 40 enlisted men and 1 officer were wounded. 3 enlisted men were killed in action. Ervin was 1 of the 3. He was killed by German artillery fire.
Ervin was buried in a temporary military cemetery in France. In October 1948 his remains were returned to Minnesota for reburial.
Ervin is buried at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Edison Heroes 