William James Erkes Jr., a United States Army 2nd lieutenant killed during the Vietnam War, will be honored for his service when the County of Bucks dedicates County Bridge No. 183 in his name 11:30 a.m. Thursday, May 4.
The dedication, which is being held with the support of the Pennsylvania Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (PAVVMF), will take place where Farm School Road crosses Tohickon Creek in Bedminster. GPS coordinates for the event are 40.45841617572725, -75.15966160395801. The public is encouraged to attend.
Erkes, an Eagle Scout who served as class president during his junior and senior years at Palisades High School, earned an Army ROTC scholarship to Rutgers University. He graduated from Officers Candidate School at Fort Benning, Ga., and subsequently completed Airborne and Special Forces training at Fort Bragg, N.C. He served as a platoon leader with Company D, 321st Infantry Brigade, Americal Division.
Erkes was engaged to be married but was killed a few days before the local paper publisher the wedding announcement. He is buried in Point Pleasant Baptist Church Cemetery, Point Pleasant.
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