- SURNAME
Adkins
- FORENAME
George Bentley
- UNIT
505th Parachute Infantry Regiment
- RANK
Technician Fourth Grade
- NUMBER
20362515
- AWARD
Silver Star x 2
- PLACE
Normandy, 6-8th June 1944 + Netherlands 1-2nd October 1944
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
born 01.06.1922 Sago, Franklin County, Virginia, USA
father Charlies Lee Adkins
mother Elsie Walker Adkins
grammar school education
civil occupation General farmers
single with dependents upon enlistment
03.02.1941 entered service Petersburg, Virginia
11.1944 WIA
resided 522 Orchard Avenue, Rocky Mount, Franklin County, Virginia (draft card)
08.10.1945 draft card Rocky Mount, Franklin County, Virginia (draft card shows D.O.B. 15.06.1922)
23.01.1947 re-enlisted (U.S. Coast Guard)
01.11.1947 married Myra Lee (nee Chandler) Adkins (1920-2007)
daughters Janet Elizabeth (1949-2003) & Nancy
31.05.1962 discharged
died 14.06.1982 (Aged 60)
Westlawn Cemetery, Elizabeth City, Pasquotank County, North Carolina
CITATION:
Silver Star (Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster) : The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star to Technician Fourth Grade George B. Adkins (ASN: 20362515), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company H, 3d Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82d Airborne Division, in action 6 – 8 June 1944, in ****, France. Technician Fourth Grade Adkins, Medical Aid Man, having landed by parachute near ****, nine miles from his drop zone, was captured with four companions by a German artillery unit which was suffering heavy casualties from a United States Naval barrage. Regardless of the danger, he treated wounded comrades and enemy alike, meanwhile trying to persuade the artillery commander to surrender. When this officer was seriously wounded, Technician Fourth Grade Adkins rescued him and treated his fractures and wounds with great skill. Impressed by the paratrooper’s humanity and reasoning, the German officer agreed to surrender. Technician Fourth Grade Adkins went down to the beach under a white flag and arranged with friendly troops to take over his forty-four prisoners and the artillery position, then recovered the medical equipment from a parachute bundle, salvaged a jeep from a wrecked glider and rejoined his unit near ****. Technician Fourth Grade Adkins’ courage, skill, initiative and sincere devotion to duty reflect great credit on himself and the United States Airborne Forces.
Silver Star : The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private George B. Adkins (ASN: 20362515), United States Army, for gallantry in action on 1 and 2 October 1944 near ****, Holland. Private Adkins, Company Aidman, attached to Company H, 3d Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82d Airborne Division, during an enemy attack on an important roadblock, rescued two wounded men under extremely hazardous conditions. During a fire fight two men defending a road block were badly wounded and lay in full view of the enemy. Private Adkins left his covered position and crawled directly into a mortar barrage to the wounded men. Under enemy fire he administered first aid and then, unmindful of his own safety and still under enemy fire, he carried the men, one at a time, back to a covered position. As a direct result of this action the lives of two of his comrades were saved. The devotion to duty under extreme combat conditions displayed by Private Adkins reflects credit on the Airborne Forces of the United States Army.
Silver Star : The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private George B. Adkins (ASN: 20362515), United States Army, for gallantry in action on 1 and 2 October 1944 near ****, Holland. Private Adkins, Company Aidman, attached to Company H, 3d Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82d Airborne Division, during an enemy attack on an important roadblock, rescued two wounded men under extremely hazardous conditions. During a fire fight two men defending a road block were badly wounded and lay in full view of the enemy. Private Adkins left his covered position and crawled directly into a mortar barrage to the wounded men. Under enemy fire he administered first aid and then, unmindful of his own safety and still under enemy fire, he carried the men, one at a time, back to a covered position. As a direct result of this action the lives of two of his comrades were saved. The devotion to duty under extreme combat conditions displayed by Private Adkins reflects credit on the Airborne Forces of the United States Army.
WEB LINKS:
• https://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient/recipient-90168/FINDAGRAVE:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/116403384/george-bentley-adkins
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