Robert Erickson was born in New Jersey in 1943. The following year, his father was fighting in the Pacific War. "He came into Japan with Gen. Douglas MacArthur, and was stationed at the U.S. Army Air Force Base in Atsugi," Erickson said. "He used to send me small Japanese gifts, wrapped in rice paper, in wooden boxes."
His family were immigrants in the New York area. At the turn of the 20th century, one set of grandparents arrived from Sweden, the other from Russia and the Ukraine. Along with the mixed nationalities came different religions, customs, food. "I was the only Christian," Erickson said. "I am used to being an outsider." Erickson sees the diversity of his childhood, though, as "a wonderful cultural affirmation. How lucky I was to experience that style of life," he said. All the grandparents, however, wanted him to be completely American.
His father returned home when Erickson was 5 and accustomed to being the little man of the house. Within a short time his father, a reservist, was called up to go to Korea. "When he came home again, suddenly there was a stranger once more I had to get used to," Erickson said. "It took me years to tolerate him."