Obituary of Vernon Henry Gus'' Eriksen

Eriksen, Vernon ?Gus?, 76 of St. Petersburg, died Tuesday, March 21, 2000. He was the son of Peter and Ingeborg Nielsen Eriksen. He, his father and mother emigrated from Denmark to the U.S. after Peter Eriksen?s service in the A.E.F. as a rifleman in France during WWI. He resided in the Berwyn and Cicero area of Chicagoland and graduated from Lyons Township High School. He joined the U.S. Army Air Force in 1942 and served as a ?Flying Tiger? in the China Burma India Theatre. As a member of the 14th Air Force, 308HB.G., 373rd B.S., he flew 32 combat missions and the ?Hump? as a B-24 radio operator and waist gunner. He was discharged in 1945 and remained in the U.S. Air Force Reserves based at O?Hare. He served in the Korean War during 50-51 based in Okinawa, Japan. He was employed by Illinois Bell and later Ameritech until his retirement in 1982. He resided in Naperville, IL from 1960 until his retirement to St. Petersburg. He was a member of the I.B.E.W Local 134, Telephone Pioneers of America, The V.F.W., The American Legion, The 14th Air Force Assn., The China Burma India Society, The Air Force Gunners Assn., The Radio Relay League WAGWFO, The Loyal Order of the Moose and a Life Member of the N.R.A. He is survived by his mother, Ingeborg Eriksen of St. Petersburg; one son Mark Cindy Eriksen of Naperville, IL; two daughters, Donna Mark Achuff of Glendale, CA and Amy Jelinek, of Naperville, IL; and six grandchildren. He is at peace now with his fallen comrades. Anderson-McQueen Funeral Homes & Cremation Tribute Center-Ninth Street Chapel, St. Petersburg.