This two-part mission was in honor of  Cpl. Wayne R. Erickson, United States Marine Corps, whose PBJ Bomber and crew went missing on April 22, 1944 during a training mission off the Island of Espirtu Santo, South Pacific during WWII.  Cpl. Erickson was nineteen years old at the time of his death. Cpl. Erickson is being repatriated after having been declared missing for sixty-eight years. 

Part One – On Wednesday, May 23, 2012, Cpl. Erickson arrived at DFW International Airport on AA Flight 102 from Honolulu at 07:15.   His escort from Honolulu was Marine Corps MSGT Rodolfo Altamirano Jr.  A Marine Honor Guard transferred Cpl. Erickson from the aircraft to the waiting coach with niece Terri Sutton, her son AJ Sutton and AA VMERG members in attendance.  An Honor Detail of five Patriot Guard Riders led the coach and family from DFW Airport to Laurel Land Funeral Home in Fort Worth where Cpl. Erickson spend the night. 

Part Two – On Thursday, May 24, 2012, Riders began arriving at Laurel Land Funeral Home at 09:00 in preparation for the procession to DFW National Cemetery.  Flags were posted around the funeral home as we awaited the arrival of Cpl. Erickson family.  At 11:15, Riders received a safety briefing for the procession and were also addressed by Sgt. Mark Thorne with the Forth Worth Police Department Motor Unit.  
After the safety briefing, Terri Sutton, Carla Machate and Chuck Gross, Cpl. Erickson’s nieces and nephew, were presented with PGR plaques in appreciation for their uncle’s service and sacrifice as a United States Marine during World War II.
After the presentation of plaques, the flags around the funeral home were taken down and the Riders prepared for the procession to DFW National Cemetery. 
When the procession arrived at the cemetery at approximately 12:45, we were taken directly to shelter B for the memorial service and military honors conducted by a Marine Corps Honor Guard.  At the conclusion of the service, Cpl. Erickson’s nephew, Chuck Gross, a Vietnam Veteran, sang, “I’m proud to be an American.”  Cpl. Erickson was born on this day in 1924.  He would have been eighty-eight years old, but the war made him forever nineteen.
