Kirk von Ackermann explained

Kirk von Ackermann
Death Date:October 9, 2003 (aged 37)
Death Place:Iraq
Disappeared Date:October 9, 2003
Disappeared Place:Iraq
Disappeared Status:Presumed dead
Nationality:American
Occupation:Intelligence officer
Spouse:Megan von Ackermann
Children:3

Kirk von Ackermann (– 9 October 2003) was an American contractor who disappeared in Iraq in 2003.[1] His family was given a "presumption of death of a citizen abroad" certificate three years later. He has not been officially declared dead.[2]

Early life

Von Ackermann was an intelligence officer in the United States Air Force, and had previously served as a Russian linguist in the United States Army. Among his roles in the Air Force was that of "former Deputy Director of Intelligence for NATO operations in Kosovo in 1999, where he had been decorated for operations behind enemy lines."[3]

Disappearance

He was employed by Ultra Services of Istanbul, Turkey when he disappeared in Iraq on October 9, 2003. His car was found empty on a road between Kirkuk and Tikrit, with his equipment and $40,000 still inside.[4] [5] He had called a colleague, Ryan G. Manelick, a short while earlier to say that he had a flat tire and needed a jack. On December 14, 2003, Ryan G. Manelick was gunned down just after leaving Camp Anaconda. The Major Procurement Fraud Unit (MPFU) at U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command (USACIDC) is investigating.[3]

The CID have not given a firm conclusion on when or where von Ackermann may have died, although these is a presumption that it may have happened on October 9, 2003, in a botched kidnapping attempt. They still, however, refuse to give out information on his case which is still "active." Von Ackermann's body was never found.[6]

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency lists Von Ackermann as one of five remaining missing servicemen or DOD contractors since the onset of Operation Desert Storm.[7]

Personal life

Before going to Iraq, Von Ackermann was a manager at Siebel Systems, a business software company in San Mateo, California, and living in Moss Beach, California.[8] He is survived by his wife, Megan, and three children.[3] [9]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Waller . Douglas . Foul Play in Iraq? . . July 28, 2018 . February 13, 2005.
  2. News: Obituary . July 28, 2018 . . January 14, 2007 . en.
  3. Web site: Freeman. Colin. Suspicion surrounds missing Bay Area man / His fellow military contract worker pointed to kickback schemes — and then was killed. SFGate. 13 December 2016.
  4. News: Freeman . Colin . November 11, 2003 . Bay Area civilian vanishes in Iraq . July 28, 2018 . San Francisco Chronicle.
  5. https://web.archive.org/web/20070303054338/https://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/13560597/death_of_a_contractor_greed_and_murder_in_iraqs_lawless_desert Death of a Contractor
  6. http://missinginiraq.blogspot.com/2006/08/story.html Kirk von Ackermann profile
  7. http://www.dpaa.mil/Our-Missing/Iraq-Other-Conflicts/ Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
  8. News: Army Seeks Missing U.S. Civilian in Iraq . July 28, 2018 . The Los Angeles Times . November 12, 2003 . 120 . en.
  9. News: Gore . Jeanine . Von Ackermann: 'a regular guy?' . July 28, 2018 . . November 24, 2003.