Gary Acker

Gary Martin Acker (October 25, 1954 – November 7, 2001) was an American mercenary who was sentenced to 16 years in prison during the Luanda Trial, of which he served 7.

Early life and military service Gary Acker was born in 1954 to Joyce and Carl Acker.

Soon after graduating C. K. McClatchy High School in 1972, Acker, wanting to fight communism, joined the United States Marine Corps intent to fight in the Vietnam War. He was disappointed when fighting ended, ultimately serving six months aboard the USS Ranger. He was chosen to fill an opening at the Naval Academy Preparatory School, but dropped out after three months. Afterwards he was shipped off to Camp Lejeune, but there he was demoted from Corporal to Lance Corporal, diagnosed as a 'severe schizophrenic passive aggressive', and given a general discharge for behavior that included alluding that he may harm a Lieutenant he believed was harassing him.

Angolan Civil War At some point after his discharge Acker saw an article reprinted in the Sacramento Bee regarding recruitment of mercenaries for the Angolan Civil War. He was recruited by David Bufkin, paying for his and Bufkin's tickets at Fresno Airport on December 26, 1975. They'd go on to meet Frank Mariano and Lobo del Sol, and the four stayed at a combination of Bufkin's house and Hilton Hotels, the latter of which Acker would have to pay for as well. As flights into Angola were delayed due to the capture of Uíge, the three helped Bufkin publish his paper Mercenary Forces Group, until Acker began running out of his Marine Corps savings and returned home in January 1976.

However, soon after returning home Lobo del Sol called him to double check before the group was to head for Angola, and Acker relented, joining them. They met in New York with other American mercenaries, including Gus Grillo and Daniel Gearhart, boarding a plane at John F. Kennedy International Airport before changing flights to Kinshasa at Charles de Gaulle Airport. Arriving in Zaire late on February 7, 1976, they were harassed and bribed by airport security and Zairian Armed Forces over issues regarding their vaccination cards, where they lost roughly $77 as well as their passports before an FNLA General arrived.

They met up with Nick Hall and Colonel Peter McAleese before proceeding to São Salvador, when the group quickly began to uncover suspicious behavior from Bufkin, ranging from owing others than Acker hundreds of dollars, false promises about the number of mercenaries already in-country, and plans to flee back to the States. Together they entered his hotel room and opened his bag, where they found a Walther P38 and an Uzi. Bufkin was brought to his room and 'court-martialed' by the men, who decided he'd be stripped of his cash, rank in the FNLA, and sent to the front lines. They reported this to Colonel McAleese, who upheld it.

Acker and his group would later meet up with Holden Roberto where the mercenaries were offered equipment. Acker took a FN Browning 9mm and MG 42, giving Bufkin's Uzi to fellow American mercenary and ex-CIA Officer George Bacon. On February 11 Acker, was involved in training FNLA recruits, including at least one child soldier.

They were taken to Luanda and held with other American and European mercenaries captured in separate incidents, including Grillo and Gearhart. Canada would die of his wounds on the second night there. Ultimately Acker was sentenced to 16 years in prison, Grillo to 30 years, and Gearhart to death.

During his sentence Acker experienced the 1977 Angolan coup d'état attempt during which he was almost killed, but was more interested in the use of an MP43/44 by one of the Nitistas at the time than his own fate.

Later life Gary Acker would go on to marry Dora Carolina (née Salazar). He died on November 7, 2001. His funeral was held on November 15, 2001.