During WWI John served stateside, inducted on August 10, 1918 at Philadelphia, PA, and discharged honorably on May 22, 1919. He was promoted to Corporal on April 22, 1919. In 1935 he was employed in the Veterans Work Program at Camp 3, Lower Matecumbe Key, Florida (now part of Islamorada). On September 2, 1935 a hurricane destroyed Camp 3 and two other camps nearby. John was one of the 260 veterans who died that day or later from injuries. His body was identified and brought to Miami for embalming before return to his family if requested, or burial in a national cemetery if unclaimed. But an order by the Governor of Florida in response to demands by public health officials halted movement of all victims beyond Miami and required their immediate burial. This was meant to be a temporary measure until officials determined it was safe to resume transport of remains. No one ever claimed John's remains or placed a marker on his grave. In 2015 an interim change to VA policy permitted the Woodlawn cemetery director to apply for grave markers. John finally received his marker in 2016.
During WWI John served stateside, inducted on August 10, 1918 at Philadelphia, PA, and discharged honorably on May 22, 1919. He was promoted to Corporal on April 22, 1919. In 1935 he was employed in the Veterans Work Program at Camp 3, Lower Matecumbe Key, Florida (now part of Islamorada). On September 2, 1935 a hurricane destroyed Camp 3 and two other camps nearby. John was one of the 260 veterans who died that day or later from injuries. His body was identified and brought to Miami for embalming before return to his family if requested, or burial in a national cemetery if unclaimed. But an order by the Governor of Florida in response to demands by public health officials halted movement of all victims beyond Miami and required their immediate burial. This was meant to be a temporary measure until officials determined it was safe to resume transport of remains. No one ever claimed John's remains or placed a marker on his grave. In 2015 an interim change to VA policy permitted the Woodlawn cemetery director to apply for grave markers. John finally received his marker in 2016.
Inscription
John Ackerman
CPL US Army
World War I
Apr 19 1896 Sep 2 1935
Gravesite Details
Grave is near the 1935 Hurricane Memorial, Section 2A
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