Medal of Honor recipient Bennie Adkins is in critical condition at the East Alabama Medical Center in Opelika, according to a report the Opelika-Auburn News.
The 86-year-old 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.
As of Thursday night, he has been placed on a ventilator to help him breathe while his body tries to fight off the COVID-19 respiratory illness.
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.
Other honors Adkins has earned include the Purple Heart, the Army Commendation Medal, Silver Star, Bronze Star Medal and the Distinguished Service Cross among many others.
By the time Adkins retired from the Army, he had achieved the rank of command sergeant major.
He returned home to Alabama to get a bachelor’s degree from Troy State University before establishing Adkins Accounting Service, where he was CEO for 22 years.
“We’re very appreciative of the prayers and support from people, frankly, from around the country. We’re hopeful for the best, but realistic as well,” Adkins’ son told the News.
Adkins’ native Lee County is suffering the highest per-capita COVID-19 infection rate of any county in Alabama. The area has 47 of the state’s 538 coronavirus cases as of 9:15 a.m. on Friday.
Command Sgt. Major Bennie G. Adkins’ autobiography can be purchased here.
Henry Thornton is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can contact him by email: [email protected] or on Twitter @HenryThornton95.
