Personal Narrative Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Software, E-Resource Audio Recording Donald Huston Ericson Collection

Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: Korean War, 1950-1953
- Branch of Service: Marine Corps
- Unit of Service: 1st MAW (Marine Aircraft Wing); 3rd Marine Division
- Location of Service: California; Japan; Korea; North Carolina
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
Donald Huston Ericson's pugnacious motto, "don't mess with me unless you want a fight," helped him fit right in with the Marine Corps. Ericson served stateside as a middleweight fighter on a Marine Corps boxing team, eventually fighting in the National Golden Gloves. He often found himself working with recruiters, going to high schools around southern California to put on a show and encourage young men to enlist. While deployed to Japan, an injury to his brain during a fight ended his boxing career, but not his love for the Marine Corps or the sport. In later life he became an official for the U.S.A. Boxing Program.
Donald Huston Ericson Collection
Interview / Recording
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PlayEnlisting in the Marines. 00:03:15.0 - 00:07:05.0
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PlayBasic training in California; drill sergeants tear you down, build you up. 00:08:32.0 - 00:17:09.0
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PlayJoining the Marine Corps boxing team; traveling around with recruiters. 00:27:42.0 - 00:32:02.0
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PlayBoxing aboard ship to Japan; fighting a Navy boxer much heavier than himself. 00:40:10.0 - 00:43:57.0
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PlayBoxing in Korea; fight with Chuck Whitley, light heavyweight champion; brain injury that ended Ericson's career. 01:02:31.0 - 01:07:32.0
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PlayFinal thoughts on the Marine Corps; "I was one hell of a Marine." 01:22:30.0 - 01:22:58.0
Transcript:
XML
About this Item
Title
- Donald Huston Ericson Collection
Names
- Ericson, Donald Huston
- Douglas County Libraries Archives and Local History
- Gray, Annette
- Belt, Barbara
State of Birth
- CO
Home State
- CO
Headings
- - Ericson, Donald Huston
- - Korean War, 1950-1953 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Marine Corps.
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Male
Status
- Veteran
Service History
-
Korean War, 1950-1953
- Branch of Service: Marine Corps
- Unit of Service: 1st MAW (Marine Aircraft Wing); 3rd Marine Division
- Location of Service: California; Japan; Korea; North Carolina
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Dates of Service: 1952-1960
- Military Status: Veteran
Materials
- Audio: Audio Cassette [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 02/17/2005)
- Manuscript: Military papers (orders, personnel/201 files, etc) [8 items] -- Typewritten document (collected 1952 - 1955)
- Computer File: CD [1 item] -- Electronic file of manuscript (collected 02/17/2005)
- Manuscript: Printed matter [2 items] -- Typewritten document (collected 1954)
- Manuscript: Transcript [1 item] -- Transcription of audio recording (collected 02/17/2005)
- Photograph: Photographic print [7 items] -- Photograph (collected 1952 - 1954)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/63573
Cite as
- Donald Huston Ericson Collection (AFC/2001/001/63573), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- audio
- image
- online text