Английская Википедия:Bennie G. Adkins

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Шаблон:Short description Шаблон:Cleanup Шаблон:Infobox military person Bennie Gene Adkins[1] (February 1, 1934 – April 17, 2020) was a United States Army soldier and recipient of the U.S. military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions during the Vietnam War. In March 1966 Adkins distinguished himself during a 38-hour close-combat battle against North Vietnamese Army forces during the Battle of A Shau. At the time of the cited action, Adkins was a sergeant first class serving as an Intelligence Sergeant with Detachment A-102, 5th Special Forces Group, 1st Special Forces.[2]

Biography

Adkins was born in Waurika, Oklahoma, and was drafted in 1956. He was assigned to a garrison unit in Germany, with a follow-on assignment to the 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Benning, Georgia. After attending Airborne School, he volunteered for Special Forces in 1961, serving with Special Forces for more than 13 years with the 7th, 3rd, 6th and 5th Special Forces Groups (Airborne).[3] During that time he deployed to the Republic of Vietnam three times between 1963 and 1971.[4] In April 1967, Adkins was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions with Detachment A-102 during his second tour in Vietnam.[5][6] After Vietnam, Adkins was assigned to Fort Huachuca.[7] Graduating in the third class of the Sergeant Major Academy, he returned to the Special Forces at Fort Bragg, then went to Fort Sherman and led training at its Jungle Operations Training Center.[7] Adkins finally retired from the Army in 1978.[6]

After the Army, Adkins earned a bachelor's and two master's degrees from Troy State University.[2] He operated his own accounting company, and taught classes at Southern Union Junior College and Auburn University.[2] On May 12, 2017, Troy University Chancellor Jack Hawkins, Jr. awarded Adkins an honorary doctorate of laws.

In March 2020, Adkins was hospitalized with COVID-19. He was admitted to the intensive care unit and put on a ventilator after experiencing respiratory failure.[8] He died from complications of the virus on April 17, 2020, at the age of 86.[9] Adkins was buried at Arlington National Cemetery on December 16, 2020.[10]

Medal of Honor award

Файл:Medal of Honor ceremony in honor of retired Command Sgt. Maj. Bennie Adkins and Spc. 4 Donald Sloat 140915-A-AJ780-009.jpg
CSM Adkins receiving the Medal of Honor from President Barack Obama.

From 2002, the U.S. Army reviewed all 6,500 recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross to see if any recipients had actually performed actions worthy of the Medal of Honor; this led to two dozen medal upgrades in March 2014.[11] In 2013, as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014, the Senate Armed Service Committee passed a provision removing the time limit for Donald P. Sloat and Adkins.[12] On September 15, 2014, President Obama awarded the Medal of Honor to Adkins as an upgrade of his 1967 Distinguished Service Cross. During that ceremony, the Medal of Honor was awarded posthumously to Sloat and American Civil War army officer Alonzo Cushing.[13] Adkins was also inducted into the Pentagon's Hall of Heroes.[14]

Awards and decorations

Medal of Honor citation

Шаблон:Quotation

Commendations

Файл:Joseph Dunford and Bennie Adkins 170119-D-PB383-002 (32047590960).jpg
Adkins with Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Joseph F. Dunford in 2017

Adkins received the following awards:[2]

U.S. military decorations
Шаблон:Ribbon devices Medal of Honor (Upgraded from the Distinguished Service Cross)
Шаблон:Ribbon devices Bronze Star Medal with Valor device and bronze Oak leaf cluster
Шаблон:Ribbon devices Purple Heart with two Oak Leaf Clusters
Шаблон:Ribbon devices Army Commendation Medal
Шаблон:Ribbon devicesФайл:Gcl-05.png Army Good Conduct Medal with 5 bronze Good Conduct Loops
U.S. Unit Citation Awards
Шаблон:Ribbon devices Army Presidential Unit Citation
Файл:Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon.svg Meritorious Unit Commendation
Шаблон:Ribbon devices Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with palm and frame
Файл:Civil Action Unit Citation.png Vietnam Civil Actions Medal Unit Citation with palm and frame
U.S. Service (Campaign) Medals and Service and Training Ribbons
Шаблон:Ribbon devices National Defense Service Medal
Шаблон:Ribbon devices Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Шаблон:Ribbon devices Vietnam Service Medal with one silver and one bronze Campaign star
Шаблон:Ribbon devices NCO Professional Development Ribbon
Шаблон:Ribbon devices Army Service Ribbon
Шаблон:Ribbon devices Vietnam Bravery Medal with one brass star
Шаблон:Ribbon devicesФайл:Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg Vietnam Gallantry Cross with one bronze star
Шаблон:Ribbon devices Vietnam Campaign Medal with "60-" clasp
Other accoutrements
Файл:Combat Infantry Badge.svg Combat Infantryman Badge
Файл:1 star jump.svg Master Parachutist Badge
Шаблон:Small
Файл:Einzelbild Special Forces (Special Forces Insignia).svg Special Forces Tab
Файл:United States Army Special Forces CSIB.svg United States Army Special Forces
Шаблон:Small
Файл:ExpertBadgeRP.jpg Expert Marksmanship Badge with Rifle and Pistol bars
Файл:ArmyWepBadge.gif Sharpshooter Marksmanship Badge with Carbine bar
Файл:Markesman Weapons Qual Badge.png Marksmanship Badge with Machinegun bar
Файл:ViPaBa.jpg Vietnam Master Parachutist Badge
Шаблон:Small
Файл:SpecialForces Badge.svg United States Army Special Forces
Шаблон:Small
Файл:ArmyOSB.svg 5 Overseas Service Bars
Файл:Service stripe.jpg 7 Service stripes

See also

Шаблон:Portal Шаблон:Commons category

References

Шаблон:Reflist

External links

Шаблон:Authority control