Command Sergeant Major Bennie Adkins, who received a Medal of Honor for his actions during the Vietnam War before returning home to his native Opelika and becoming a pillar of the community, died on Friday after a struggle with COVID-19 at the age of 86.

Adkins’ death was confirmed to media outlets by members of his family. More details have not yet been made available.

The war hero and businessman had been hospitalized at the East Alabama Medical Center since March while stricken with the coronavirus.

As Yellowhammer News reported in March:

Adkins served in the United States Army for over 20 years, including three non-consecutive tours in Vietnam.

For heroic actions taken during a bloody battle in 1966, Adkins was awarded the Medal of Honor by then-President Barack Obama in 2014.

Adkins’ official citation that accompanied his Medal of Honor reads in part: “When the camp was attacked by a large North Vietnamese and Viet Cong force in the early morning hours, Sergeant First Class Adkins rushed through intense enemy fire and manned a mortar position continually adjusting fire for the camp, despite incurring wounds as the mortar pit received 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.”

According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, approximately 2.7 million Americans served in Vietnam, with 258 earning a Medal of Honor.

Henry Thornton is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can contact him by email: [email protected] or on Twitter @HenryThornton95