Dec 17, 2005 - 02:01:43 CST
GRAND FORKS (AP) - A former North Dakota National Guard soldier who was wounded in Iraq has graduated from the University of North Dakota.Brandon Erickson, 24, was one of more than 700 students were eligible to walk across the stage Friday at two separate UND ceremonies.
For Erickson, it was a difficult journey to that point.
Erickson lost his right arm in a rocket-propelled grenade attack in July 2003. He was a member of the Bismarck-based 957th Multi-Role Bridge Company.
Erickson was a passenger in a vehicle driven by Spc. Jon Fettig, 30, of Dickinson, who was killed in the ambush. Part of Erickson's right arm was later amputated.
Weeks after his military discharge in December 2003, Erickson resumed classes at UND. He took up to 21 credits a semester to complete a bachelor's degree in political science as quickly as possible.
Now that he's finished, Erickson said he's most looking forward to joining his wife in California and starting a family.
Friday was the first time Erickson had seen his wife in more than a month.
Dana Parry-Erickson is pursuing a doctorate degree in psychology and has lived in California this semester. "I've been all full of smiles," Erickson said after the ceremony.
As Erickson received his degree, family members cheered in support. "I'm just so proud of him for making it this far and graduating," Parry-Erickson said.
Originally right-handed, Erickson sought help from UND's Disability Support Services to keep up with taking notes.
Many of Erickson's friends at UND have graduated, but about 10 members of his unit returned to UND.
Erickson said he provided a different perspective in class discussions involving the war in Iraq. The last thing he had to do before graduating was take a final exam on military history. "I thought it'd be easy and I was dead wrong," Erickson said of the class.
Erickson plans to attend Fresno State and work toward a master's in business administration. He wants to stay in government work.
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