A Tiger Among Us: A Story of Valor in Vietnam’s A Shau Valley by Bennie Adkins. A story from growing up in a large family in Oklahoma to his indeed extraordinary heroism at the Battle of A Shau Valley in March 1966. This is truly an amazing patriot and community leader.
Bennie served three tours in Vietnam before returning stateside retiring in 1978. In addition, he complete two masters degrees and launched his own accounting firm. However following his awarding of the Medal of Honor in 2014, Bennie changed his life to serve again.
He was drafted in 1956 and served in Germany before returning to the 2nd Infantry Division at Fort Benning. Bennie volunteered for Special Forces in 1961. Deploying to Vietnam three times between 1963 and 1971, as a result blending life and family into his early service and initial training within Special Forces.
Then the focus shifts to A Shau. At first glance Bennie is awarded the Distinguished Service Cross from the battle. As just one of 17 serving at a Special Forces camp at A Shau, Bennie also found 400 South Vietnam irregulars serving at the camp. This included Montagnards. Bennie addressed their fighting skills, yet also the discrimination they faced by fellow Vietnamese.