A local hero called to serve in the Vietnam War received the Medal of Honor on Sept. 15. Command Sgt. Maj. Bennie G. Adkins, 80, retired from the military in the Auburn-Opelika area, where he later worked and developed businesses.
Adkins was a student at Cameron College, now known as Cameron University, in Lawton, Ohio, at the time.
"I was a college student, and not doing real well in college, so I elected to drop out of college for a while," Adkins said. "In that period of time, if you dropped out of college you went to the top of the draft list. So I was drafted in the military."
After the draft, Adkins said he continued his military career for 22 years. His career encompassed three tours of duty in Vietnam, where he served as a Green Beret or Special Forces. A battle in his second tour earned him recommendation for the Medal of Honor.
"There was a big battle lasting 38 hours and then we were ordered to evade this area and escape into the jungle," Adkins said. "There were two days of escape and evasion after that."
Adkins said the battle took place in 1966, the same year his recommendation was offered, but it didn't go through.
He instead received the Distinguished Service Cross, which he has worn for 48 years.
"The President of the United States called and told me that he had approved the Medal of Honor for me based on the recommendations of the Secretary of Defense," Adkins said. "He said what created this was some additional evidence that had turned up on this. Two eyewitnesses that were in the battle that did not make statements on the initial investigation made statements."
Adkins said there have been approximately 28-30 million people who served in the military honorably.
"Of those 28-30 million, I was told that I am only the 78th living recipient of the Medal of Honor," Adkins said. "This is such a humbling experience for me to be a number of that elite group. I wear this medal for the other 16 American soldiers that were in the battle with me. All 17 of us were wounded, some with multiple wounds, and all were decorated for valor. Unfortunately, five paid the ultimate price, and that's the people that deserve the medal -- not me."
Adkins retired from the military and pursued his education, eventually opening an accounting and tax consulting business to pay for his children's education.
He received two associate degrees in the military and later a bachelor's and two master's degrees in management and education from Troy University.
Barbara and James Birdsong, both retired military, crossed paths with Adkins when they opened their business in Auburn, in the same place Adkins and his family decided to retire.
"I think our relationship is definitely one that parallels, because my husband and I are also retired military and we returned to Auburn," Barbara said. "I started a business in the very spot he started a business. He is always generous with his time and he's just a good person."
Barbara said Adkins' most notable traits are his integrity, perseverance and his love for his family.
"I would say the thing he is most proud of is his family," Barbara said. "He is such a family man, and the devotion and love to one another they have is amazing. I just think perseverance is the whole thing. He just wanted to be the best at what he does and it's something that has traveled with him throughout his entire life. It is evident in how he raised his children, how he runs his business and how he does business with us. He's a legend."
Adkins said he wants to continue instilling patriotism in people all ages through his speaking engagements.
"I've traveled to many countries in the world," Adkins said. "We have the greatest country in the world, and I want to see us keep it that way. Go vote, choose on every level of people to lead our country, support the people that are elected into elected positions and instill patriotism in all phases of life."
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