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Erik Halvorsen Obituary

BENNINGTON -- Erik A. Halvorsen, 40, a member of the Aviation Regiment of the Third Infantry Division, U.S. Army, was lost in combat on Tuesday, April 2, 2003. A Black Hawk helicopter pilot with the rank of Chief Warrant Officer, he was one of six soldiers aboard the aircraft, all of whom died in the tragic crash of the helicopter near Karbala in Iraq.

Erik was born in Bennington, on Feb. 22, 1963, the son of Halvor A. and Dorothy (Robidoux) Halvorsen. He attended local schools and graduated from Mt. Anthony Union High School in 1981. He attended the University of Hartford where he graduated in 1986 with a bachelor’s degree in electronic engineering technology.

Erik completed helicopter flight school at Ft. Rucker, Ala. in 1987 and was assigned to Korea. On his return, he was assigned to the 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Ft. Devens, Mass. After serving in the first Gulf War in 1991, he was assigned to Ft. Rucker, Ala. as a UH-60 Black Hawk instructor pilot and flight leader. Later he completed a peacekeeping mission in Bosnia and served a second time in Korea.

In 1995, Erik became a commissioned officer in the Army’s Medical Service Corps and was assigned to the 498th Forward Support Battalion as a Medevac section leader. In 1998, he left the Army for a short time to pursue a civilian career in aviation but in June of 2000 he returned to active duty as a warrant officer and was assigned to Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized) at Hunter Army Airfield, Ga. He deployed with the 3d Division in January to Kuwait and was with the division when it entered combat in Iraq late last month.

Erik is survived by his mother, Dorothy C. Halvorsen of Bennington; his father Halvor A. Halvorsen of Richmond, Maine; his sisters Karen Loebe of Petaluma, Calif., Ingrid Halvorsen of Delmar, N.Y. and Brenda Halvorsen of Lake Worth, Fla.; his maternal grandmother Antonia Robidoux of Bennington; his nephews, Nicholas Richter of Southington, Conn., Ted Loebe Jr. , Christopher Loebe and Brian Loebe all of Petaluma and many friends, all of whom will miss his warm and caring personality, quiet thoughtfulness and high ideals.

Funeral services for CW4 Erik Halvorsen will be held on Thursday, April 17 at 10:30 a.m. at the Second Congregational Church, Hillside Street in Bennington, with the Rev. Mary Lee-Clark, pastor, officiating. Interment with full military honors will follow at Park Lawn Cemetery in Bennington. Following the committal, a simple reception will take place in Webster Hall at the Second Congregational Church. Friends are invited to call at the Hanson-Walbridge Funeral Home in Bennington on Wednesday evening from 6 to 8 p.m.

Contributions in memory of Erik Halvorsen may be made to the Erik A. Halvorsen Memorial Scholarship Fund which will be utilized for the aid of deserving future graduates of Mt. Anthony Union High School. Gifts may be sent in care of the Hanson-Walbridge Funeral Home, P.O. Box 957, Bennington, VT 05201.

For directions or to send e-mail condolences please consult www.nsm.org/covey.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Bennington Banner on Apr. 14, 2003.

Memories and Condolences
for Erik Halvorsen

Not sure what to say?





Charlie Gili

April 9, 2015

Hello,
We would like to express our deepest condolences and also let the Halvorsen Family and friends know that we will be sending Care Packages to troops in Afghanistan this week and we'll be dedicating several of these to your loved one. Each package will carry the name, photo and the hometown of Erik A. Halvorsen US Army Chief Warrant Officer 4. We realize that this is a small tribute, but we do this with all respect and sincerity and we want you to know that it is made possible by thousands of like-minded individuals from across the American youth hockey community. We will not forget. May God Bless you and keep you strong.
Sincerely,
Charlie Gili & Family
Behalf of the US Hockey Players Support Our Troops Campaign

A New England Family

May 7, 2013

I wanted the family of Erik Halvorsen to know even though 10 years has passed, your loved one is still remembered. We will always be grateful to him.

Peggy Childers

April 15, 2012

April 2, 2012
To the family and friends of Chief Warrant Officer Erik A. Halvorsen:
Always remembering Erik. "Some gave all."

Ginger Mankowski

April 2, 2011

To the family and friends of Chief Warrant Officer Erik A. Halvorsen:

Please accept our remembrance of Erik on the anniversary of his passing and know that he will never be forgotten.
Ginger Mankowski/Peggy Childers
www.IraqWarHeroes.org

Peggy Childers

April 2, 2010

To the family and friends of Chief Warrant Officer Erik A. Halvorsen:
Remembering Erik on the anniversary of his passing. May our fallen heroes never be forgotten!
Peggy Childers
"Don't Let The Memory Of Them Drift Away"
www.IraqWarHeroes.org

Kenna

March 23, 2010

”Honor and Remember” - “Project Compassion” We love our Soldiers! We love our country and we cannot express enough love and compassion to the families of our fallen heroes. War does not discriminate – It breaks our hearts to see the faces of the fallen. We want to give this gift to the hero’s Mother, Father and/or spouse. We are a 501c3 nonprofit organization! Almost 2,000 portraits have been completed and shipped to the parents and or spouse - at no cost as this is a gift from one American to another!
This is a gift! We have wonderful sponsors who help with the costs, and want you know that everyone here at Project Compassion does and will always CARE.
Contact us directly at [email protected] or go to www.heropaintings.com . If you have already had a portrait completed, we pray that you are enjoying the portrait and God Bless You.
Sincerely and Respectfully,
Kenna
[email protected]

Peggy Childers

April 2, 2009

To the family of Chief Warrant Officer Erik A. Halvorsen:
Erik gave the ultimate sacrifice and will be held in the hearts of Americans forever. I cannot and will not let our fallen heroes be forgotten. My deepest sympathy to you. "Some gave all."
Peggy Childers
"Don't Let The Memory Of Them Drift Away"
www.IraqWarHeroes.org

sue

May 20, 2008

God bless Erik and his family.May your memories of him sustain you during this difficult time

The Neal family

April 17, 2008

To the Halvorsen family,
Please know that just as your loved one will forever remain in your hearts and minds, his sacrifice and that of your family, will remain with the people he died defending. Words cannot express the gratitude we feel for his bravery and selflessness, or the heartache we feel for your loss. God grant you the peace that passes all understanding.

Betty Frye

April 5, 2008

My deepest condolences to the family.May God comfort you in this time of indescribable pain and grief. Our prayers and thoughts are with you.

~*Home*~

Debra Estep

April 2, 2008

To the family and friends of Erik. Holding you all in my thoughts and prayers today.

May God and His Angels surround you and bring you comfort.


The Wind on The Downs

“I like to think of you as brown and tall,
As strong and living as you used to be,
In khaki tunic, Sam Brown belt and all,
And standing there and laughing down at me.
Because they tell me, dear, that you are dead,
Because I can no longer see your face,
You have not died, it is not true, instead
You seek adventure in some other place.
That you are round about me, I believe;
I hear you laughing as you used to do,
Yet loving all the things I think of you;
And knowing you are happy, should I grieve?
You follow and are watchful where I go.”

(Written by Marian Allen during World War l )

Two lines that I wish you to keep near your heart…….

“You seek adventure in some other place.
That you are round about me, I believe”

I did not know Erik, but he is my hero.

xo xo
Deb
Proud Air Force Mom and MIL
http://remembering-the-fallen.blogspot.com/

Suzanne MacDaniel

February 27, 2008

To the Halvorsen family,

May you hold Eriks' memory in your heart and please remember he shall never be forgotten.

For you every single soldier
Those who served so honorable
Your life was forever altered
While I’m home safe and free
I stand with grateful admiration
I stand respectful and so proud
I know I’m only a civilian
And I don’t even know if it’s allowed.

But I salute you; allow me the honor
to salute you with permission let me say
Even though I hold no rank know that from my heart
My humble gratitude comes from the deepest part.
I salute you.

A Proud Aunt
David M.Fisher
KIA 12/1/04 Iraq

November 14, 2007

You are remembered and respected. Thank you CWO Halvorsen!

August 3, 2007

If this person can stand in battle to ensure my freedom, then I will stand in grief with his/her family to honor him/her. For every fallen HERO there is a bright star that shines in the evening sky to remind us of the cherished gift we were given – even if for too short a time.
My heart breaks again as I sign yet another guest book of another courageous young soldier who gave their life so selflessly. I wish I never found myself in a position to have to sign another guest book for the rest of my life, but I promised Le Ron A. Wilson (a dear friend KIA 7/6/07, 18yrs old) that neither he nor any like him would be forgotten and so I will continue until the day there is no longer the need.

PROUD MOTHER OF A U.S. SOLDIER
Althea Barrett(Queens, NY)

July 5, 2007

Thank you for the sacrifice made by Chief Warrant Officer Halvorsen and the sacrifice made by everyone who loves and misses him! May God bless all of you!!

Steve Conway

April 26, 2007

I don't really know what to say. I just want you to know that I will never forget you. I still think about the "guys" every day. To Erik's family, take pride in knowing that he was an excellent teacher, soldier and friend.

Garnet Jenkins

April 1, 2007

In Remembrance of this Fine Soldier, Chief Warrant Officer Erik A. Halvorsen, who lost his life while in the service of our Country.
A multitude of Thanks for his Courage, Dedication and Service.

There will Never Be Enough Ways, to Humbly Thank these Heroes, for their Supreme Sacrifices, my brother among them. KIA-Vietnam 1967.

"Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." - John 15:13

May you find peace in knowing the love and memories you have, will remain in your heart forever and that this Country Remembers Erik's sacrifice.
I am So Deeply Sorry for your loss.

Jim Rivers

February 16, 2007

I was shocked when my sister told me of Erik passing. Life has a way of catching up with you when you least expect it to. I played sports with Erik in JR high.
Shared lockers with him in high school. Erik's red hair, freckeled face and his funny way of moving the soccer ball with his toes pointed in, will always be visons of my past. Erik was a quite leader and a strong guy you could count on...those type of men are rare and Erik was one of them. I will always remember him playing behind me on the soccer field..If he had control of the ball..I would switch with him..I would run back and play def. and watch him pick his way up the field with his funny way of dribbling the ball that fooled and tricked the other teams. I was glade to hear about the special award, in Eriks name, given out at the John James soccer Matches. I will miss you Erik you were a good friend and a great teammate.

Jim Rivers

Cheri Coyne-Noble

September 27, 2006

I
was truely saddened when reading old copies of the Banner to read about
Eriks death. As a former neighbor and classmate of his sisters I well
remember Erik. My heart goes out to all his family.

Tom Gugliuzza-Smith

March 14, 2006

My heartfelt sympathy to the Halvorsen family in the loss of Erik. I did not know Erik, but my heart is broken and I am saddened for your loss of such a fine young person and hero. May God bring you peace in your heart as you reflect on all the wonderful memories you hold so close. Please know that you are in my heart and prayers. Erik next month it will be 3 years since you were taken. You are a hero and you will never be forgotten.

I send each of you a hug from the most inner part of my heart.

Love and Peace

Tom



To live in the hearts

of those you leave behind

is never to die"

~Robert Orr~

linda trotto

November 4, 2005

Erik,

This letter is to you to let you know that each fallen leave I see reminds of you in everyway. I now know why fall was always you're favorite time of year......The colors of the leaves are so bright, only to fall......leading to that bright white light that we see as winter. Like the leaves in the fall, you always brought brightness to every part of my life and i can't tell you how much i miss you, your beautiful smile and your gentle kindness that you shared with everyone. You were a

bright light when you were with us and now you're our shining star........ I will love you always. Linda Trotto

Debbie

October 5, 2005

May God give you strength to get through your loss. We, as Americans, are grateful for the dedication of our military and mourn with you in your loss.

clyde bowden & family

October 4, 2005

we are a military family,active duty soldier & salior. The family of Chief Warrant Office Erik Halvorsen has our deepest sympathy. God bless.

Larry Dearborn

October 3, 2005

I retired from the US Army in 1973. I have seen death in Vietnam. Each time a service member dies in the service, a part of me also dies. My condolences to all.

Kim Robinson

October 3, 2005

I am sorry for your lost. I do not know you or your lost loved one, but I feel your pain. I will pray for you and your family.

Jamie Graves

October 2, 2005

God Bless( Jamie,Navy wife)

Rhonda Hansen

October 2, 2005

Your service honors all of us,May God Bless you and yours.

Henryk Zaleski

October 2, 2005

Rest in peace warrior at your last post in paradise.

Angela

August 3, 2005

I cant say I ever had the honor of meeting Chief Warrant Officer Halvorsen, although at Hunter I could have passed Him by a hundred times and smiled or waved as we all tend to do here..odd how so many of us walk in and out of the lives of these soldiers everyday but forget for a moment to stop and say thank you..thank you for what you have done and are doing for us..until moments like these come.



being a military fiance, I stood and watched the guys leaving Hunter heading to iraq..I saw their faces..proud and strong..all brave in their own way..some afraid but never letting it show..

I lost many friends over there and its a loss that never truly fades..so I send my prayers and sympathy to you and your family for your loss..no words can ever change whats happened..so I will say only this You gave the world a hero and for that we give you the thanks that we can no longer give them.

Pamela Crawford

April 29, 2003

I guess we thought we would all live to be 100.

I knew Erik in school,from Molly Stark through graduation day,and only wished I had seen him more after wards. He had a calling ,to fly through the sky with the Angels.And now he is a guardian angel to us all.

Erik will always be remembered as a decent young man,who had that smile that no matter how down you were,you smiled too.

To you,his great family,may God bless you.

Pamela, class of 1981

"To Dream the Impossible Dream".

Stephen King

April 19, 2003

Dorothy, we were all saddened to hear of Erik's death and see your pain on CNN. I remember you well from high school as a guidance counselor. I am so sorry for your loss. My family has three cousins in the Gulf and one in Afghanistan. It is difficult to understand why such promising young people die but God will help you and family through this difficult time. We in Columbia, SC will keep you and your family in our prayers.

Respectfully,

Stephen E. King (MAUHS’76)

Chirs Q

April 19, 2003

To my dear friend Ingrid and her family, my deepest sympathies go out to you on the loss of your dear brother/son. All of our hearts break along with yours.

Elwin T Holland

April 18, 2003

To Mrs Halvorsen and family,my wife Brenda and I extend our sincere sympathy for your loss and are sincerely grateful for the sacrifice your son made for his country.God bless you all and God bless America.Elwin T Holland,

Sr Vice Commander American Legion,Department of VT

Laura Curtiss

April 17, 2003

I wish I could say something to help you with your loss of such a wonderful man. My son is serving in Iraq, this breaks my heart and hits too close to home so I can't begin to understand the pain, and the pride you are feeling. Please know your son and your family are in my heart and prayers. Laura Curtiss, Mom of SPC Adam Boyle, 173d Airborne USA - Bravely Serving In Iraq

Diana & Larry Cross

April 17, 2003

He is a true hero. He will be missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and freinds of Erik

annissa summers

April 17, 2003

I am a wife of a soldier in Ft. Campbell. I pray daily that I never face what your family is going through. I pray the good Lord lays his hand upon you and gives the strenth and love you all need. He truly is a hero.

Michael Cabral

April 16, 2003

All my prayers go out to the friends and family of Erik Halvorsen, keep all the good memories close to you hearts and he will always be with you.



He will always be remembered by his brothers and sisters in the armed forces.



SSgt Michael Cabral

United States Airforce Europe

RAF Lakenheath

Terri Brillon-Hayes

April 16, 2003

I was so very sad to hear that Erik was killed. I'm sure the family and the United States will miss him dearly. I grew up on Harmon Road in Bennington as well. It was always so much fun to follow my brother's to Erik's house to see all the newest toys he had to play with. I remember he always shared them with me... Please be strong as a family and stick together through this challenging time. You all are in my thoughts.

Dana Frisbee

April 16, 2003

Sorry to hear of Erik's passing so soon. Hang onto the good memories and you will get thru all the pain of loosing him. He is gone, but not forever. You will see him again soon.



Dana Frisbee

Dale Waterman

April 15, 2003

Erik was in my fourth grade class in 1973 at Molly Stark School. I will always remember his smile and love of learning.My deepest sympathy and love to all of your family. G-d bless Erik and his courage and service to our country.

Peter F. Benson

April 15, 2003

Hi Hal,



I am very sorry to hear of your son's death. Pete Benson (ex-WCG)

Michele Tobin-Brillon

April 15, 2003

I remember Erik when we were little living on Harmon Road, but Im sorry that I never knew him as an adult. I used to watch him jumping on his Trampolin from behind a tree. He cought me one day, and I thought he would be mad at me for spying on him, but he came over to me, and asked if I wanted a turn jumping. Funny how you can't control what things you will remember. He was a nice kid with a cute smile, and I'm sure he will be missed. My thoughts are with his family, and Im sorry to hear about his death. I can understand how lost you all will feel without him.

Kelli Mason

April 14, 2003

I did not know Eric but, he was a brave man. My thoughts and blessings go out to you and your family.

Becchi Oesterle

April 14, 2003

My deepest sympathies to the family of Erik. Being a 1978 grad of Mt. Anthony, the Halvorsen name was not unknown to me and it was such a shock to read the news in the Banner on-line. I am truly and deeply sorry for your loss.

Jennie Mckinney

April 14, 2003

My deepest sympathy to the family of Erik....Your loss was definately deep..But the pride you carry in your hearts for Erik is definately implanted forever... Your fallen Erik is looking down upon you all now and his spirit and memories will help you get through this and keep him alive for ever...You shared your son with the whole US and i personally would like to say thank you for your sacrifice... Sincerely ..Jennie Mckinney and Family..

April 14, 2003

Our hearts and prayers are with you and your family at this time. We hope you know that there are many people out here that are thinking of you all. Please keep praying for everyone...

Showing 1 - 48 of 48 results

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