Robert L. Tracy – Colonel, United States Army

From a contemporary press report

Robert L. Tracy, 90, who was Assistant Comptroller for Fiscal Policy when he retired in 1973 after a 27-year civilian career with the Army, died of pneumonia February 10, 2003, at Inova Alexandria Hospital, Virginia.

He had lived in the Washington area since 1944 and in Alexandria since 1946.

Colonel Tracy, a native of Omaha, received a bachelor’s degree from Amherst College and a law degree from Fordham University in New York.

He served in the Army during World War II, first with a rifle company and later as an instructor at the Army Finance School. He attained the rank of Major before his discharge from active duty in 1946. He was a Colonel in the Army Reserve upon his retirement in 1974.

For his civilian work with the Army comptroller’s office, he received the Meritorious Civil Service Award and twice received the Army Exceptional Civil Service Award.

In the 1970s and 1980s, he served on the board of Alexandria Hospital. He also had served on the board of the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra.

Mr. Tracy was a member of Army Navy Country Club.

He also was a member of St. Rita Catholic Church in Alexandria, where he was an usher and volunteered in the parish school.

He married Helen Louise Wellman in 1942. She died in 1988.

Survivors include two sons, Robert J. of Blacksburg, Virginia, and William of Springfield; a daughter, Elizabeth Pankey of Falls Church; and two grandchildren.

TRACY, ROBERT L.

On February 10, 2003. Preceded in death by his wife, Helen L. Tracy and brothers, Francis and Arthur Tracy. Survived by his children, Robert J. Tracy of Blacksburg, Virginia, William W. Tracy of Springfield, VA and Elizabeth T. Pankey of Falls Church, Virginia; sister, Mary Warren of Mamaroneck, New York; grandchildren, Michael Tracy of Arlington, Virginia, Ann Tracy of McLean, Virginia, and the late David Pankey and many devoted friends.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, February 13 at 11 a.m. at St. Rita’s Catholic Church, 3815 Russell Rd., Alexandria, Virginia. Interment at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors on Wednesday, February 19, 2003, at 9 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to a charity of your choice.

Michael Robert Patterson

Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.

Reviewed by: Michael Howard