United States Department of Veterans Affairs shares the update on the Veterans Legacy Program that appreciates the life and service of PFC Dorothy Nancy One Road Ackerman as part of the NativeAmericanHeritageMonth commemoration.
They mentioned in the statement, “Today, the Veterans Legacy Program appreciates the life and service of PFC Dorothy Nancy One Road Ackerman as part of our #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth commemoration.”
Born into the Dakota people in Greenwood, South Dakota, on April 25, 1931, Dorothy was a graduate of Flandreau Indian School and attended Huron Presbyterian College for a time.
Along with this, the Korean War began in 1950, and she enlisted in the Air Force of the United States as a WAF-Women in the Air Force.
She was honourably discharged in 1952.
Moreover, following her service, she became a wife as well as a mother and moved to Portland, OR in 1966. There she worked at the Good Samaritan Hospital.
She was active in many organisations, committees, and boards, supporting Indian culture as well as language and was eventually known to everyone as “Grandma Dorothy.”
Ackerman passed away at Portland’s VA hospital on September 20, 2017, at the age of 86. She was survived by 12 children, 18 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.
Reflecting upon her life, one person who came to know as well as love Dorothy said of her Dorothy was one of the finest individuals he had ever known in his life. The goodness she bestowed upon people will echo through the generations. Also, she still lives among people, speaks to people and guides people even though they do not see her.
Furthermore, she is interred at Sisseton Wahpeton Sioux Veterans Cemetary in South Dakota.
