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Old 08-26-2014, 18:52   #1
Richard
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CSM (Ret) Bennie G. Adkins - A-102 (Ashau) 1966

POTUS to award MOH to CSM (Ret) Bennie G. Adkins for his actions in defense of SF Camp A-102 (Ashau) in March 1966.

Well done, Sergeant Major!

Richard


CITATION

Command Sergeant Major Bennie G. Adkins distinguished himself during 38 hours of close-combat fighting against enemy forces, March 9-12, 1966. At that time, then-Sergeant First Class Adkins was serving as an Intelligence Sergeant with Detachment A-102, 5th Special Forces Group, 1st Special Forces at Camp A Shau, in the Republic of Vietnam.

When Camp A Shau was attacked by a large North Vietnamese and Viet Cong force in the early morning hours of March 9, then-Sergeant First Class Adkins rushed through intense enemy fire and manned a mortar position defending the camp. He continued to mount a defense even while incurring wounds from 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, Adkins repeatedly exposed himself to sniper and mortar fire, while moving casualties to the camp dispensary.

Adkins exposed himself to enemy fire transporting a casualty to an airstrip for evacuation. He and his group then came under heavy small-arms fire from members of the Civilian Irregular Defense Group, which had defected to fight with the North Vietnamese. Despite this overwhelming force, Adkins maneuvered outside the camp to evacuate a seriously wounded American and draw fire away from the aircraft, all the while successfully covering the rescue. Later, when a resupply air drop landed outside of the camp perimeter, Adkins again moved outside of the camp walls to retrieve the much-needed supplies.

During the early morning hours of March 10, enemy forces launched their main assault. Within two hours, Adkins was the only defender firing a mortar. When all mortar rounds were expended, Adkins began placing effective recoilless rifle fire upon enemy, as they infiltrated the camp perimeter and assaulted his position. Despite receiving additional wounds from enemy rounds exploding on his position, Adkins fought off relentless waves of attacking Viet Cong.

Adkins then withdrew to regroup with a smaller element of Soldiers at the communications bunker. While there, he single-handedly eliminated numerous insurgents with small-arms fire, almost completely exhausting his supply of ammunition. Braving intense enemy fire, he returned to the mortar pit, gathered vital ammunition and evaded fire while returning to the bunker. After the order was given to evacuate the camp, 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.

Because of his efforts to carry a wounded Soldier to an extraction point and leave no one behind, Adkins and his group were unable to reach the last evacuation helicopter. Adkins then rallied the remaining survivors and led the group into the jungle, where they evaded the enemy for 48 hours, until they were rescued by helicopter, March 12. During the 38-hour battle and 48-hours of escape and evasion, Adkins fought with mortars, machine guns, recoilless rifles, small arms, and hand grenades, killing an estimated 135 - 175 of the enemy and sustaining 18 different wounds. 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.

http://www.army.mil/medalofhonor/adk...m=hp_spotlight

POTUS' Remarks At Presentation Ceremony

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-...t-major-bennie
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Old 09-16-2014, 18:30   #2
NF_NYC
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Here is the video of the presentation ceremony where both Army Command Sgt. Maj. Bennie G. Adkins and Army Spc. Donald P. Sloat were honored:

http://youtu.be/WaihotDBRG8?list=UU6...xh-skXCuRHCDpQ
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Old 10-08-2014, 17:37   #3
WarriorDiplomat
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What a warrior too bad it took this long
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Old 10-08-2014, 18:04   #4
The Reaper
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Well done, gents.

Thank you for your service.

TR
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Old 12-29-2014, 22:47   #5
Shizzam
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Had the honor of listening to him give us a speech at our SFQC graduation here in December. What a great soldier.
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Old 07-19-2017, 12:05   #6
Aka0013
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I had the privilege of meeting CSM (Ret) Adkins. Great man with a great sense of humor. True hero
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