adkins

The Patriot Guard Riders have been invited to participate in the return of PVT Virgil Adkins, U.S. Army, Korean War KIA/ MIA, as he is returned to his home in Hinton, WV for his final rest.

On July 17, 1953, Adkins was a member of Company B, 1st Battalion, 65th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, on a combat patrol to reconnoiter enemy activity in an area north of the former Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), North Korea, when it came under attack, forcing a withdrawal back to friendly lines. As a result of the fighting, Adkins was reported missing in action.

Following Operation Big Switch, where American prisoners of war were returned, the Army Forces Far East reported evidence of the death of Adkins on July 17, 1953, although his remains were not returned during Operation Glory in 1954. Based on the lack of information regarding Adkins, the U.S. Army declared him deceased.  His remains were eventually identified among 208 boxes of commingled human remains returned by North Korea.

PVT Adkins will be returning to Greensboro, NC on Wednesday, 31 Aug 16. Additional information will be provided by the NC RC at the mission briefing.

We WILL be escorting PVT Adkins from Greensboro, NC to the Pivont Funeral Home, 100 Park Ave., Hinton, WV (https://tinyurl.com/jkqrjl7).

Ride Captains from all states involved will post their own staging location and times to this thread.

West Virginia District Captain Pat Hanifin, Sr (patnpath@frontier.com) is the designated RCIC of the West Virginia portion of this most honorable mission.

West Virginia staging information for today’s escort:

Location: Lil General Store, 1000 Oakvale Ave., Princeton, WV (https://tinyurl.com/z7ynlpc).

Staging time: 1500.

Mission brief: 1530.

KSU: Anticipate arrival between 1530-1600, at which time we’ll be KSU.

Graveside only services will be at the Hilltop Cemetery beginning at 1500 on Saturday, 03 Sep 16.

Staging on Saturday will be at the Summers County Memorial Building, 97 Park Ave., Hinton, WV (https://tinyurl.com/zjxj5th).

Staging time: 1330.

Mission Brief: 1345.

Flag line will be in place NLT 1400 and will be maintained just prior to KSU at 1445 for the short journey to the cemetery where our flag line will be reset for graveside services. The Patriot Guard Riders have been requested to provide pall bearers for his most dignified transfer.

Weather forecast for tomorrow for the Hinton area is for partly cloudy skies with temperatures in the upper 80’s.  Forecast for Saturday is for sunny skies with temperatures in the low 80’s.  Please dress and travel accordingly.

Won’t you join with us as we welcome home one of our native sons who so bravely gave of himself so many years ago in what is commonly referred to as “The Forgotten War”.  Help us show him and his family that his service and sacrifice will never be forgotten.

Respects,

Joe

Hinton, WV 25951