Posted on 03/27/2019 9:39:07 AM PDT by jazusamo
Trevor Atkins was 11 when his father, Army Staff Sgt. Travis Atkins, was killed while serving in Iraq a dozen years ago. On Wednesday President Trump will present the Medal of Honor to the Atkins family to recognize Travis for his heroism in saving fellow soldiers while losing his own life.
“My true treasure is what people say about him,” Trevor tells an interviewer for an Army video tribute to Travis Atkins. “That’s what makes me the most proud.”
Trevor has plenty of reason to feel proud lately. Earlier this month the White House announced that his father would be awarded the Medal of Honor.
In 2007, Staff Sgt. Atkins was in Iraq with the 10th Mountain Division. It was his second time in the country. His first was in 2003, and soon after he was honorably discharged.
He worked and attended the University of Montana, but missed the military. He re-enlisted in 2005. It wasn’t a surprise for his family. In the Army video, his mother Elaine recalled that Travis said basic training was “the best time I’ve had in my life.” Jack Atkins added of his son, “The civilian life just didn’t do it for him.”
By the summer of 2006, Travis was back in Iraq. Conditions in the country had deteriorated significantly since his first deployment. In the midst of this tour, President George W. Bush would approve the escalation of troop levels that became known as the surge in a last-ditch attempt to save the situation. Travis did not hide the dangers involved from his family. “He was very open about that,” his son recalled.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Off the Wall Ping!
Contact to be added.
Above and beyond.................
Thanks, most interesting and quite a history.
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