Bennie Gene Adkins (1934 - 2020)

Born 1 Feb 1934 in Waurika, Jefferson, Oklahoma, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Mary Nell (Arington) Adkins — married 7 Apr 1961 in Montgomery, Alabama, United States

Died 17 Apr 2020 at age 86 in Opelika, Lee, Alabama, United States

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Biography

Bennie Adkins was awarded the Medal of Honor.

Sergeant First Class Bennie Adkins was Wounded in Action in Vietnam during the Vietnam War.

Sergeant First Class Bennie Adkins served in the United States Army in the Vietnam War
Service started: Dec. 5, 1956
Unit(s): 5th Special Forces Group
Service ended: 1978

Bennie Gene Adkins was born on 1 Feb 1934 in Waurika, Jefferson, Oklahoma, United States, son of Ben G. Adkins (1900 - 1976) and Julia Idell (Musgraves) Adkins (1906 - 1988).

Bennie married Mary Nell Arington (1931 - 2019) on 7 Apr 1961 in Montgomery, Alabama, United States^[1][2]. Their children were:

1. Dennis Craig Adkins (1957 - 1979)
2. Michael David Adkins (~1957 - living)
3. Bennie Wayne Adkins (1963 - 2014)
4. William Keith Adkins (~1965 - living).

Bennie died on 17 Apr 2020 in Opelika, Lee, Alabama aged 86. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia.^[3]

Military Career

Command Sergeant Major Bennie Adkins was drafted into the Army on 5 December 1956. While assigned to the 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Benning, Georgia, Adkins volunteered for Airborne School and Special Forces where he served three non-consecutive tours in Vietnam during his 22-year career. He retired from the Army as a Command Sergeant Major in 1978. President Obama presented his Medal of Honor in September 2014 , which reads, "Sergeant First Class Bennie G. Adkins distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as an Intelligence Sergeant with Detachment A-102, 5th Special Forces Group, 1st Special Forces at Camp A Shau, Republic of Vietnam from March 9 to 12, 1966."

When the camp was attacked by a large North Vietnamese and Viet Cong force in the early morning hours, Sergeant First Class Adkins rushed through intense enemy fire and manned a mortar position continually adjusting fire for the camp, despite incurring wounds as the mortar pit received several direct hits from enemy mortars. Upon learning that several soldiers were wounded near the center of camp, he temporarily turned the mortar over to another soldier, ran through exploding mortar rounds and dragged several comrades to safety. As the hostile fire subsided, Sergeant First Class Adkins exposed himself to sporadic sniper fire while carrying his wounded comrades to the camp dispensary. When Sergeant First Class Adkins and his group of defenders came under heavy small arms fire from members of the Civilian Irregular Defense Group that had defected to fight with the North Vietnamese, he maneuvered outside the camp to evacuate a seriously wounded American and draw fire all the while successfully covering the rescue.

When a resupply airdrop landed outside of the camp perimeter, Sergeant First Class Adkins, again, moved outside of the camp walls to retrieve the much-needed supplies. During the early morning hours of March 10, 1966 enemy forces launched their main attack and within two hours, Sergeant First Class Adkins was the only man firing a mortar weapon. When all mortar rounds were expended, Sergeant First Class Adkins began placing effective recoilless rifle fire upon enemy positions. Despite receiving additional wounds from enemy rounds exploding on his position, Sergeant First Class Adkins fought off intense waves of attacking Viet Cong. Sergeant First Class Adkins eliminated numerous insurgents with small arms fire after withdrawing to a communications bunker with several soldiers. Running extremely low on ammunition, he returned to the mortar pit, gathered vital ammunition and ran through intense fire back to the bunker. After being ordered to evacuate the camp, Sergeant First Class Adkins and a small group of soldiers destroyed all signal equipment and classified documents, dug their way out of the rear of the bunker and fought their way out of the camp. While carrying a wounded soldier to the extraction point he learned that the last helicopter had already departed. Sergeant First Class Adkins led the group while evading the enemy until they were rescued by helicopter on March 12, 1966. During the thirty eight hour battle and forty eight hours of escape and evasion, fighting with mortars, machine guns, recoilless rifles, small arms, and hand grenades, it was estimated that Sergeant First Class Adkins killed between one hundred thirty five and one hundred seventy five (135-175) of the enemy while sustaining eighteen different wounds to his body.

Sergeant First Class Adkins’ extraordinary heroism and selflessness above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, Detachment A-102, 5th Special Forces Group, 1st Special Forces and the United States Army.

Command Sergeant Major Bennie Adkins, a Medal of Honor recipient, died from coronavirus at age 86 and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. His other awards include:

Distinguished Service Cross

Silver Star Medal

Bronze Star Medal with an Oak Leaf Cluster and "V" Device

Purple Heart

Vietnam gallantry awards

Combat Infantryman Badge

Special Forces Tab

US Army Master Parachutist Badge.

Sources

1. ↑ Marriage: "Alabama County Marriages, 1809-1950"
   citing Election Precinct 29 Alabama City, Etowah, Alabama, United States, County Probate Courts, Alabama; FHL microfilm 1,892,874.
   FamilySearch Record: Q21X-S94J (accessed 6 September 2022)
   FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-C9BB-B3C5-Y Image number 02279
   Wilhem Sanders (25) marriage to Mary Nell Arrington on 14 Apr 1956 in Election Precinct 29 Alabama City, Etowah, Alabama, United States.
2. ↑ Marriage: "Alabama County Marriages, 1809-1950"
   citing Montgomery, Alabama, United States, County Probate Courts, Alabama; FHL microfilm 1,893,299.
   FamilySearch Record: QG1Q-537J (accessed 6 September 2022)
   FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-C91S-77J4-8 Image number 01849
   Bennie G Adkins (27) marriage to Mary Nell Sanders on 7 Apr 1961 in Montgomery, Alabama, United States.
3. ↑ Memorial: Find a Grave (has image)
   Find A Grave: Memorial #209187544 (accessed 6 September 2022)
   Memorial page for Bennie Gene Adkins Famous memorial (1 Feb 1934-17 Apr 2020), citing Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, USA (plot: Section 12A Site 552); Maintained by Find a Grave.

• Unknown author. "Bennie G Adkins." Congressional Medal of Honor Society Stories of Sacrifice. Accessed 6 September 2022.
• Unknown author. "Bennie G. Adkins." Oklahoma History Center. Accessed 6 September 2022.
• Wikidata: Item Q18057030
• Birth Registration of child Baby Adkins: "North Carolina, Department of Archives and History, Index to Vital Records, 1800-2000"
  citing Birth, Cumberland, North Carolina, United States, North Carolina State Archives, Division of Archives and History, Raleigh; FHL microfilm 102258451.
  FamilySearch Record: 78BQ-S96Z (accessed 6 September 2022)
  FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CSHD-VDXZ Image number 00054
  Baby Adkins born to Bennie G Adkins` on 19 Jan 1962 in Cumberland, North Carolina, United States.
• Marriage of son William Keith Adkins: "Alabama County Marriages, 1809-1950"
  citing Montgomery, Alabama, United States, County Probate Courts, Alabama; FHL microfilm 1,893,888.
  FamilySearch Record: QG1H-Q8N6 (accessed 6 September 2022)
  FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-C91S-FCCH Image number 02677
  Bennie G Adkins's son William Keith Adkins marriage to Tina Elaine Taylor on 18 Jul 1986 in Montgomery, Alabama, United States.
• Marriage of son Michael David Adkins: "Alabama County Marriages, 1809-1950"
  citing Montgomery, Alabama, United States, County Probate Courts, Alabama; FHL microfilm 1,893,905.
  FamilySearch Record: QG14-T1HG (accessed 6 September 2022)
  FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-C91S-WQJ9-B Image number 02119
  Bennie G Adkins's son Michael David Adkins marriage to Merry Toni Willoughby Ledbetter on 16 Jun 1987 in Montgomery, Alabama, United States.
• Marriage of son Bennie Wayne Adkins: "Alabama County Marriages, 1809-1950"
  citing Montgomery, Alabama, United States, County Probate Courts, Alabama; FHL microfilm 1,907,691.
  FamilySearch Record: QG17-XV2T (accessed 6 September 2022)
  FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-C91S-X7PL-M Image number 00973
  Bennie Gene Adkins's son Bennie Wayne Adkins marriage to Jeanne Miller Sanders on 23 Sep 1991 in Montgomery, Alabama, United States.
• Birth Registration of child Bennie Wayne Adkins: "North Carolina Birth Index, 1800-2000"
  citing vol. 189, p. 458, Cumberland, North Carolina, North Carolina State Archives, Raleigh.
  FamilySearch Record: VCSM-XVQ (accessed 6 September 2022)
  Bennie Wayne Adkins born to Bennie G Adkins on 1 Mar 1963 in Cumberland, North Carolina.
• Marriage of son Michael David Adkins: "Alabama County Marriages, 1809-1950"
  citing Montgomery, Alabama, United States, County Probate Courts, Alabama; FHL microfilm 1,893,690.
  FamilySearch Record: QG17-49PX (accessed 6 September 2022)
  FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-C91S-W7YN-Z Image number 02004
  Bennie G Adkins's son Michael David Adkins marriage to Frances Melinda Green on 28 May 1978 in Montgomery, Alabama, United States.
• Marriage of son Michael David Adkins: "Alabama County Marriages, 1809-1950"
  citing Montgomery, Alabama, United States, County Probate Courts, Alabama; FHL microfilm .
  FamilySearch Record: QG18-DSWL (accessed 6 September 2022)
  FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-C91S-LQYV-3 Image number 02093
  Bennie Gone Adkins's son Michael David Adkins marriage to Boonpern Jay Curwin on 26 May 90 in Montgomery, Alabama, United States.
• Marriage of son Bennie Wayne Adkins: "Alabama County Marriages, 1809-1950"
  citing Montgomery, Alabama, United States, County Probate Courts, Alabama; FHL microfilm 1,893,826.
  FamilySearch Record: QG14-MQYV (accessed 6 September 2022)
  FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-C91S-4WH6-Z Image number 02300
  Bennie Gene Adkins's son Bennie Wayne Adkins marriage to Susan Frances Hinds on 16 Jul 1982 in Montgomery, Alabama, United States.
• Marriage of son Michael David Adkins: "Alabama County Marriages, 1809-1950"
  citing Montgomery, Alabama, United States, County Probate Courts, Alabama; FHL microfilm 1,893,787.
  FamilySearch Record: QG13-7CYS (accessed 6 September 2022)
  FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-C91S-73FS-7 Image number 01617
  Bennie G Adkins's son Michael David Adkins marriage to Sara Catherine Pugh on 29 Jun 1980 in Montgomery, Alabama, United States.
• Marriage of son Dennis Craig Adkins: "Alabama County Marriages, 1809-1950"
  citing Montgomery, Alabama, United States, County Probate Courts, Alabama; FHL microfilm 1,893,690.
  FamilySearch Record: QG17-D4ND (accessed 6 September 2022)
  FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-C91S-WW36-D Image number 02003
  Bennie Gene Adkins's son Dennis Craig Adkins marriage to Donna Ruth Yerxa on 20 May 1978 in Montgomery, Alabama, United States.
• 1940 Census: "United States Census, 1940"
  citing Affiliate Publication Number: T627; Line: 61;
  FamilySearch Record: VBVF-KVL (accessed 6 September 2022)
  FamilySearch Image: 3QSQ-G9MR-R2Z
  Bonnie Jene Adkins (6), single son, in household of Ben Adkins (39) in Grayson Township, Jefferson, Oklahoma, United States.