Charles Henry Erikson

As a student of New London Elementary School, my brothers and I were on our way home walking to Old London. We had stopped to talk to one of our Sunday School teachers living the teachers’ housing across the street from the high school. We were facing the High School when the explosion happened. We saw the building lift up off its foundation then mushroom out and collapse. Bricks and parts of the school fell around us, but nothing hit us.

We were told by the lady to run to Old London and tell the people what had happened. She said stop at the big house on the hill to have them telephone in for help. I don’t remember the family name of that house.

I ran down the Main Street of Old London telling the stores and the Baptist Church what had happened. My brothers were running to houses telling and asking for help. People had been wondering what had happened. We got to our home about 4:30 pm. Mother and Dad (Inez and Henry Erikson) had been to Tyler on a shopping trip with my baby sister. They heard about the explosion while there. Mother was so happy to see her three sons were safe.

Dad promptly went to the school to help in the work of recovery. He was an employee in the East Texas Oil field. He worked at the school until all recovery was done, coming home only for view hours of sleep each day.

We moved to Spring Hill, then later I graduated from Sabine High School (now known as Liberty City). After graduation I joined the Marines and was stationed at El Toro Marine Base and remained in California after a 4 yr. enlistment.

While viewing the coverage of the Oklahoma City Bombing I experienced flash back visual memories and then realized part of the reason of my retirement activities. In 1993 I became involved with California Southern Baptist Disaster Relief and helped in mass feeding for the Laguna Fires, then the big North Ridge Earthquake. From that point on I followed God’s leadership in the mission of assistance during times of disaster.

Presently I am California Southern Baptist Associate Director of Disaster Relief . In addition I participate in the Critical Response Team for the American Red Cross. These groups have sent me on many local, national, and international disasters.

My wife just discovered this website and then I saw and read for the first time in many years what had only been memories.

Charles (Chuck) Erikson
Email – chuckmjo@juno.com