Oklahoma Medal Of Honor Recipient Welcomed Back To Tulsa

Tulsa honors a man who went above and beyond the call of duty, single-handedly holding off the enemy for two days to save a group of American soldiers.

Command Sergeant Major Bennie Adkins was the special guest at the Medal of Honor Day ceremony in Veterans Park Saturday. He's Oklahoma's oldest living Medal of Honor recipient from Vietnam.

Adkins suffered 18 different wounds while protecting his men until help arrived.

President Obama presented him with the military's highest honor last year ago at the White House, but he's quick to give others credit.

"I don't wear this medal for myself. I wear this medal for the other highly trained, highly skilled special forces soldiers that was in the battle with me," said Command Sergeant Major Bennie Adkins, U.S. Army, retired.

9/15/2014 Related Story: Two Oklahomans Receive Medal Of Honor On Monday

Born and raised in Waurika, Adkins was 22 when the Army drafted him. He ended up serving more than 13 years in the Special Forces.

An example of his humility, the first thing Adkins told us in our interview was how much he appreciated Tulsa's remarkable hospitality.

The 14th annual Oklahoma Medal of Honor Day included exhibits and displays, like a UH-34 Marine helicopter from Vietnam. The afternoon's event was free and open to the public, sponsored by the Tulsa Marine Corps League Albert E. Schwab Detachment.

"For that, I have some purpose and that now is teaching leadership and patriotism to the young people," Adkins told News On 6.

"If I can change one persons attitude, a young persons attitude, its been worth while."