By Jolene FarleyCapt. Charles Erickson was awarded a Bronze Star medal for his "exceptionally meritorious service" while serving his country in Afghanistan. Erickson, son of Wendell and Kathryn Erickson, Hills, is a member of the Army Reserve 407th Civil Affairs Battalion headquartered in Arden Hills. Last summer, he left his wife, Naomi, and his job as a financial analyst for Hutchinson Technology in the United States. Erickson was stationed at Gardez, Afghanistan, about 70 miles south of the country’s capital, Kabul.Erickson received his Bronze Star at an award ceremony Sunday, May 2, at the Reserve Training Center, Arden Hills. His Battalion Commander Lieutenant Colonel Marcia Hines presented the medal. The following is the letter Erickson received with his Bronze Star: "Capt. Charles P. Erickson distinguished himself through exceptionally meritorious service while serving as the Team Leader of Civil Affairs Team Alpha Twelve of the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Gardez, Afghanistan, while deployed in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. Erickson distinguished himself as an asset to the war on terrorism by his using his strengths in civil affairs planning, coordination and incredible ability to conduct intelligence analysis. As Civil Affairs Team Leader, Erickson took sole responsibility for the development of the civil affairs planning for the eight districts of Paktia Province. He planned, submitted and managed more than 11 Civil Affairs projects worth more than $850,000. Many of those projects were in extremely remote areas where U.S. presence is rarely identified. Erickson also developed a computerized methodology for assessing project bids. This algorithm is the new standard for all Civil Affairs Teams throughout Afghanistan and could, potentially, be the new standard for all bidding analysis for all Civil Affairs Teams worldwide. Erickson also provided expertise in analysis of rocket launch sites. This intelligence product provided an edge to reconnaissance patrols to prevent future deadly rocket attacks on the Provincial Reconstruction Team. Another significant contribution was the novel civil affairs database that Erickson built. This database provided such a strategic advantage to the Provincial Reconstruction Team that its total economic impact has yet to be realized. The products of this aggressive computing endeavor yielded a platform to submit country development projects to multiple agencies. It included pictures and linking ability to the section of the provincial government or shura that requested the project. He conducted long-range missions under dangerous conditions over several days to extremely remote areas of Southeastern Afghanistan, including operations in Azra District of Logar Province, and the Pakistani Border. Erickson also took his team into Zormat, an Al Qaeda infested zone, to support Operation WARRIOR SWEEP. In this area, he conduced civil-military operations, including participating in raids conducted by Special Forces and the Afghan National Army. Erickson also led a Cooperative Medical Assistance program with Kuchi nomads, which treated more than 300 people and nearly 20,000 animals. As pay agent, Erickson used his organizational skills to manage more than $19,000 in government purchases to maintain not only his Civil Affairs Team, but the Provincial Reconstruction Team as well. Erickson served in a combat zone with honor and distinguished himself as the most well read officer on Afghanistan history and culture in the entire Provincial Reconstruction Team. His brilliant intellectual contributions and genuine concern, not only for the reconstruction effort in Afghanistan, but also for the welfare of the population makes this officer an outstanding candidate for the bronze star. His performance of duty in a combat zone reflects great credit upon himself, Combined/Joint Task Force-180, and United States Central Command.
