The White Falcon - 13.06.1986, Page 1

NATO Base Fire Chief Eiriksson passes away
By JOC John Petersen
Sveinn R. Eiriksson, Naval Air Station Keflavik's
Fire Chief for 23 years, died about 4 p.m., June 2
following heart surgery in a London hospital. He was
51 years old and had been an employee of the
Defense Force since 1951. Eiriksson is survived by
three children: Hafdis Sveinsdottir, Eirikur Omar
Sveinsson and Elinborg Sigrun Sveinsdottir; a foster
daughter: Silvia Magnusdottir, and spouse Sigrun
Sigurdardottir.
The funeral service was held June 7.
Chief Eiriksson was born at Seydisfjordur in
eastern Iceland on July 30, 1934. His family moved
to Njardvik when he was seven. He grew up in the
Sudurnes area during the war and graduated from
Flensborg High School in Hafnarfjordur in 1950.
After employment in a freezing plant in Njardvik,
Eiriksson applied for a job with the Defense Force.
His first work was as a house boy in the old terminal
building where he swept floors and made beds. He
left that to train as an apprentice firefighter in May
1952.
The Fire Department of the Defense Force was
composed mostly of Americans,in the 1950s. There
were 40 civilians and 40 servicemen and only eight
Icelanders. Eiriksson was promoted to Senior
Firefighter in Oct. 1956, to Fire Protection
Inspector in Nov. 1962, and finally to Fire Chief in
July 1963.
During his early years with the Fire Department
Eiriksson spent his free time learning to fly and
eventually established his own air charter service.
He was quite successful and was on the verge of
AFI Savings Bond drive underway
By Capt. Brian J. Spano
June has been designated as Savings Bond month
for Air Forces Iceland and the annual fund cam-
paign is currently underway. Savings Bonds and
Payroll Savings have been synonymous for many
years and continues to be an "everybody every
payday" universal way of savings for business, in-
dustry, government and the military services.
Bonds are an excellent savings plan that presently
earn 8.36% and offer earned deferment on federal
taxation until redemption and are guaranteed if
lost, stolen or destroyed. Bonds are an excellent
choice to finance your children's college education
or build a retirement plan. For more info contact
your unit representative or call AFI Project Offi-
cer, Capt. Brian J. Spano, at ext. 4281.
Sveinn R. Eiriksson
1934 - 1986
leaving the fire department to operate his business
full-time when the Navy decided to hire an Icelander
as fire chief. In 1963 the admiral called Eiriksson in
and asked him to take the job, which he did. His first
action as fire chief was to fire all his former