Born in Gävle, Sweden to officers David and Betty Wickberg, he was constantly moving around the world to follow his parents' appointments.

Erik became a soldier of the Salvation Army in 1924 at Berne II Corps, being sworn in by Captain Otto Brekke.

During World War II, he was appointed to Germany, where he was often obliged to sleep in air raid bunkers.

He was made Commander, Order of Vasa (1970); admitted to the Order of Moo Koong Wha (Korea, 1970); received an honorary Doctor of Laws (Korea, 1970); awarded the Grand Cross of Merit, Federal Republic of Germany (1971); and awarded the King’s Golden Medal (Grand Cross), Sweden (1980).

He authored two books: Inkallad (God’s Conscript) (autobiography, Sweden, 1978) and Uppdraget (The Charge - My Way to Preaching, 1990).