Special Forces Legend MOH Bennie Adkins' Courageous Battles (RIP/DOL)

Special Forces Legend CSM Bennie Adkins, who was awarded the Medal of Honor 48-years after a battle in Vietnam in which he saved fellow soldiers' lives -- while being wounded 18-times -- died after a courageous battle with C-19. Prayers for his dear family. 

*Below, is the speech I gave about our friend, for the unveiling of his official Medal of Honor "Portrait of Valor" -- if you'd like to read just a little of this giant's actions.  RIP / DOL. =

"Ladies and Gentlemen, Distinguished Guests, and our Founding Donors… Welcome to the Center-for-American-Values… and, “the-Home-of-Heroes”: Pueblo, Colorado! --- This afternoon we are TRULY in the “home-of-heroes”, as you can see… by just looking at these walls around us.

I’m Alex Quade, your Mistress of Ceremonies.  Usually, I’m downrange as an embedded war reporter, covering our hard-working Special Forces troops on combat missions. But there is nowhere else I’d rather be, than right here with you, sharing this historic ‘Portraits-of-Valor’ un-veiling ceremony… and recognizing America’s heroes -- our Medal of Honor Recipients.

Each one of these Recipients represents a powerful example of self-sacrifice. Today, we’re going to honor 3-in particular… but we’re surrounded by 150 - other examples of people who stood-up when duty called: Ordinary men (who just happened to be Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen or Marines)… but all-in-all, ordinary men… who when called… did something extraordinary.

Each one of the men in these portraits exemplifies the values of (point to wall sign) Honor, Integrity and Patriotism…

Today’s ceremony recognizes American patriots … Hershel “Woody” Williams… Bennie Adkins, and Melvin Morris… and their ‘Portraits of Valor’… produced by award-winning documentary-photographer Nick Del-Calzo. These will be unveiled, and displayed… right here!… at YOUR beautiful ‘Center-for-American-Values’.

Ladies & Gentlemen, please stand for our National Anthem... ---

Now we get to hear some stories from my Special Forces MOH buddies…

Command Sergeant Major Bennie Adkins… from Waurika, Oklahoma… was drafted in 1956. His first Army job was as an Administrative Clerk-Typist… but that wasn’t quite what Bennie had in mind… so he went to Airborne School… and volunteered for Special Forces, in 1961 (*you & I know these guys as the Green Berets*).   He served for more than 13-years… with 7th, 3rd, 6th and 5th Special Forces Groups.  While in S-F… he deployed to the Republic of Vietnam 3-different times.  

For 3-days in March of 1966… so numerous, and heroic, were Bennie Adkins’ battlefield-exploits… in the jungles of Vietnam… that when President Obama presented him with the Medal of Honor, he started his remarks by saying… that there was no way there would be time enough to describe them all.  At another point the President paused to say, QUOTE: “You can’t make this stuff up.”

During those 3-days in March of 1966… then-SFC Bennie Adkins’ camp was attacked by a large Viet Cong force.  Adkins rushed through intense enemy fire… and manned a mortar-position (which was receiving direct hits from enemy mortars). Despite being wounded… Bennie continued to adjust-fire for his camp.

When Bennie learned that several soldiers were wounded near the center of his camp… he temporarily ( turned-over the mortar) to another soldier… and ran …through exploding mortar rounds … to drag those soldiers to safety. He even exposed himself to sporadic sniper-fire while carrying his wounded buddies to the aid station.

Later… when Adkins and his team came under heavy fire, again… he maneuvered outside the camp, to evacuate a seriously-wounded American. Adkins then intentionally became a distraction to draw fire upon himself… so the rescue operation could succeed.

When a re-supply air drop landed outside of the camp perimeter, Adkins, again… moved outside of the camp walls… to retrieve the much needed supplies. *And that was just day-one of those 3-days in March of 1966.

The next day… enemy forces launched their main attack. And within 2-hours, Bennie Adkins was the only man still firing a mortar weapon. When he was out of rounds… he used the recoilless rifle.  Despite receiving additional wounds from enemy rounds, which were exploding on his position… Adkins kept fighting off intense waves of attacking Viet Cong.

After withdrawing to a communications-bunker with other soldiers… Bennie Adkins eliminated numerous insurgents with small-arms-fire. When they started running low on ammo, he ran under fire… back to the mortar pit… gathered more ammo… and then back to the bunker. –His team was ordered to evacuate the camp… so Adkins and his men… destroyed all the signals equipment and classified documents… dug their way out of the rear of the bunker… and fought … their way out of the camp.

*And THAT’S when “Murphy’s Law” kicked in… Bennie was carrying a wounded-soldier to the helicopter extraction point… when the last helicopter departed without them. So Adkins had to lead his men… in evading the enemy… until they were finally rescued… on that third day in March of 1966.

*It’s estimated, that Adkins killed between 135-and-175 enemy (during those 3-days of battle, & escape, & evasion)… while sustaining 18-wounds.  Here’s what HE said about it.… QUOTE= "When they treated me for 18-body wounds, someone was looking after me… and at that period of time, it was not myself.”

When he retired from the Army… he built the ‘Adkins Accounting Service’ in Auburn, Alabama… and became a CEO. He now lives in Opelika, Alabama… with his beautiful bride of more-than 59-years, Ms.Mary. 

***Now... we respectfully, and with honor… unveil the ‘Portrait of Valor’… of Command Sergeant Major …Bennie Adkins.

--- (Thank you… Joe, Ruben… Woody, Benny, Melvin, Sal & Drew Dix!) --

As we conclude our ceremony… please look around this room… at these 150-portraits… and remember… that each of their self-sacrifices helped guarantee the freedoms that we share as Americans.

These were all ordinary men, who in the face of adversity, stood up and did the extra-ordinary… and YOU have that capacity within yourselves, too… yes, in your daily-lives… by having the courage to do the right thing. 

I now charge each one of you with continuing this mission… of sharing what you learned here at the Center For American Values… about honor, integrity, patriotism… and bringing it back to your family, your organization, your job, your school and your community."  

--- REST IN PEACE, CSM BENNIE ADKINS. DE OPPRESSO LIBER ---