MASTERSON, FREDERICK JAMES

Rick Masterson died 11/30/01 AM in an accident between Annapolis and
Pax River.

Source: Compiled by P.O.W. NETWORK from one or more of the following: raw
data from U.S. Government agency sources, correspondence with POW/MIA
families, published sources, interviews. Updated 2023

REMARKS: 730329 RELEASED BY DRV

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Frederick Masterson retired from the United States Navy as a Lt. Commander.
He resided in Maryland until his death in 2001.

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04/24/02
LCdr Masterson's son here. 

My father died on November 30th, 2001, following a head-on collision while
on the way to work.  In lieu of a detailed explanation, allow me to post the
obituary notice (as sent to The Capital-Gazette, which of course
subsequently "revised" the published version to include numerous
inaccuracies):

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Frederick James Masterson, 57, a resident of the Anchorge community in
Annapolis for the past 24 years, died November 30 following an auto accident
in Harwood. The cause of death is still under investigation.

Masterson was the son of retired Navy Captain and Mrs. James Aaron
Masterson, currently residing in Seattle, Washington.  He was born in
Oakland, CA on June 24, 1944; and during his childhood he resided in various
locations throughout the US and abroad.  These included Oakland, CA,
Snohomish, WA, Pensacola, FL, South Bend, IN, Memphis, TN, England,
Newfoundland, and Japan.

A graduate of Zama American High School in Atsugi, Japan, Masterson attended
Memphis State University for one year prior to receiving an appointment to
the Naval Academy.

In 1963, Masterson was sworn into naval service by his father, who was, at
that time, the Commanding Officer of Memphis Naval Air Technical Training
Center. He served in the Naval Reserves in an enlisted capacity during his
year at Memphis State, while at the same time being enrolled in the Air
Force ROTC Program. After graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1967,
Masterson served as Engineering Officer aboard the Destroyer Escort, USS
John Willis.  He then entered the Naval Flight Officer Program and trained
in Pensacola, Florida and Glenco, Georgia.  Upon receipt of his Naval Flight
Officer wings, he was assigned to an F-4 Fighter Squadron at Oceana Naval
Air Station.  After his completion of two Mediterranean Sea cruises aboard
the aircraft carrier USS Saratoga, the ship, with its squadrons, was
deployed to the Western Pacific.

On July 11, 1972, Masterson's aircraft was shot down over North Vietnam.  He
was captured and held as a Prisoner of War until the end of the conflict.

Masterson's military honors include, among others, the Bronze Star with a
Combat "V", the Purple Heart, the Air Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal
with the Combat "V" and gold stars, the Prisoner of War Medal, the Vietnam
Service Medal, the Navy Unit Commendation and the Combat Action ribbon.

Due to permanent injuries sustained in Vietnam, he was retired from the Navy
in 1977, at the rank of Lieutenant Commander.  He has been employed at
Veridian Engineering for the past 21 years.

Masterson married a Navy nurse, Linda Walker, on June 15, 1974.  In addition
to his wife, he leaves behind his son, Aaron Frederick Masterson, his
parents, two brothers, Norman of Annapolis and James of Bothell, WA, as well
as two nieces and two nephews.

The viewing will take place at Taylor Funeral Home, 147 Duke of Gloucester
Street, Annapolis, MD, on December 12, 2001, from 2:00 to 4:00 PM and from
6:00 to 8:00 PM. The funeral, with full military honors, will be held at the
U S Naval Academy Chapel on December 19, 2001 at 10:30 AM.  Inurnment at the
Naval Academy Columbarium will follow the ceremony.  In lieu of flowers, the
family requests that donations be made to the Navy Relief Society, 801 North
Randolph Street, Suite 1228, Arlington, VA  22203-1978.

Due to heightened security at the Naval Academy, all visitors must present
photo ID.  Additionally, the following applies:  Cars with DOD stickers may
enter through any of the three gates.  Cars without DOD stickers must either
park in town and walk through Gates 1 or 3, or they may park at the stadium
on the blue side and take a shuttle to the Academy.  Cars with handicapped
tags may enter through Gate 1 and the car will be briefly inspected.

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The aforementioned investigation has since been completed.  The cause of
death was seat belt trauma, which resulted in, among other things, a
ruptured aorta.

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