Frederic Ackerson

Col. Frederic (Fred) Ackerson (USA-Ret) passed away at the age of 97 on May 31, 2023, at the Fairfax Retirement Home near Ft. Belvoir, Virginia. Col. Ackerson was born October 14, 1925 to Col. Martin and Mabel Ackerson in Iowa City, Iowa. Fred’s father was a career army officer, and as a result, Fred grew up at a variety of postings in the US and in Hawaii. The Ackersons were living in Hawaii at the time of the Pearl Harbor attack and Fred and his mother were subsequently returned to the US where he graduated from high school at the age of 16 and entered the University of Iowa. After graduation in 1945, he entered the US Army where he began his decorated 29-year career. Over the course of his career, Col. Ackerson served at various postings overseas and the US. Col. Ackerson served in the post-World War II occupation forces, the Korean War, in Vietnam as both a Battalion Commander in the First Cavalry Division and on General William Westmoreland’s staff, and as a Brigade Commander at Ft. Carson, Colorado. Col. Ackerson received a Master’s Degree in Political Science from Tulane University following the Korean War and retired from the US Army in 1974. Following his military career, Col. Ackerson went to work for the US Government at what would eventually become the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). He served on the International Desk coordinating emergency preparedness with our NATO allies, which also included a 4-year assignment at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. He retired from FEMA in 1987. Col. Ackerson is survived by his wife of 65 years, Mary Ellen Ackerson (nee Wortman). Col. and Mrs. Ackerson settled in the Mount Vernon area of Alexandria, Virginia, including the last 10 years at the Fairfax Retirement Home. In addition to his wife, Col. Ackerson is survived by his 3 sons - Douglas (Sharon) of Alexandria, Norman (Leslie) of Goodyear, AZ, and Steven of Annapolis. He is also survived by 7 grandchildren – Jacob, Alice, Hillary, Clayton, Annabell, Zoe, and Millicent, and 4 great-grandchildren – Carlotta, Evie, Arabella and Kaisley. Burial will be at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Wounded Warriors Foundation or to the Disabled American Veterans.