Private First Class Akard was a member of the 27th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy in North Korea on 6 September 1952.

For his leadership and valor, Private First Class Akard was awarded the Silver Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.