Military Review English Edition January-February 2015 | Page 146

Sgt. Maj. Bennie G. Adkins MEDAL OF HONOR VIETNAM WAR T wo Vietnam War veterans, retired Command Sgt. Maj. Bennie G. Adkins and Spc. 4 Donald P. Sloat, were each awarded the Medal of Honor in a ceremony at the White House, 15 September 2014. Adkins received the medal in person from President Barack Obama. Sloat’s award was posthumous; his brother, Dr. Bill Sloat, received the medal on his behalf. Adkins was presented the medal for numerous acts of valor during a 38-hour battle at Camp A Shau, Republic of Vietnam, and 48 hours of escape and evasion, 9-12 March 1966. He is credited with killing more than 135 enemy soldiers during the battle while suffering 18 wounds. When a large North Vietnamese force attacked the Camp A Shau on 9 March, Adkins manned a mortar position. He mounted a defense of the camp, sustaining wounds from several direct hits by enemy mortar rounds in the process. He left the mortar position temporarily, facing mortar and sniper fire to drag several wounded comrades to safety. Adkins repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire to evacuate wounded casualties and retrieve supplies. On the morning of 10 March, the enemy launched their main assault. Adkins continued to man the mortar until he had exhausted all rounds, then fought off waves of enemy soldiers with rifle fire. Withdrawing to a communications bunker with a small element of soldiers, he continued to fight off the enemy, receiving more wounds in the process. Adkins and the group destroyed the signal equipment and classified documents, then fought their way out of the camp. Because he was carrying a wounded soldier, Adkins and his group could not reach the last evacuation helicopter. Instead, he led them into the jungle and evaded the enemy for 48 hours until they were rescued by a helicopter on 12 March.