1410 March 10, 1966 The Americans attempt a counterattack within the camp to push the NVA, the attempt fails. The enemy “limps back over the north wall,” though, allowing the camp defenders to keep control of part of the camp. #BattleofAShauRealTime

1700 March 10, 1966 Command headquarters takes decision to abandon the camp. 16-18 Marine helicopters are sent to evacuate the soldiers, only 8 make it on the ground. #BattleofAShauRealTime

1730 March 10, 1966 Seeing so few helicopters come in, the South Vietnamese soldiers of Camp A Shau panic and begin to rush the helicopters, trampling their fellow soldiers in the process. #BattleofAShauRealTime

1735 March 10, 1966 South Vietnamese soldiers mob the helicopters, making them too heavy to take off. The helicopter crews have to kick and shoot some of the mob in order to lift off. #BattleofAShauRealTime

1740 March 10, 1966 One helicopter, with squadron commander Lieutenant Colonel C.A. “Chuck” House on board, was too overloaded and, as it tries to lift off, is hit by enemy fire, causing it to come crash. #BattleofAShauRealTime

1800 March 10, 1966 With no other escape route, survivors enter the jungle hoping to evade the enemy until more help arrives. A large group of survivors, including Lt. Col. C.A. House and several Americans, head west, hoping to make it to Laos. #BattleofAShauRealTime

1815 March 10, 1966 Sgt. Bennie Adkins is with a smaller group, delay leaving the camp as Adkins and another American return to the camp to rescue a severely wounded American, Mike Force Sergeant Jimmy Taylor. #BattleofAShauRealTime

1830 March 10, 1966 Sgt. Bennie Adkins and his small group take off into the jungle, headed to the Laotian border. Sergeant Jimmy Taylor died soon thereafter. #BattleofAShauRealTime

1900 March 10, 1966 Sgt. Bennie Adkins and his group stop long enough to cache Sergeant Jimmy Taylor’s body and then take refuge in the jungle spending the night evading the enemy. #BattleofAShauRealTime

1700 March 11, 1966 Helicopters are able to evacuate a handful of Lt. Col. C.A. House’s larger group, leaving the others on the ground for another night. #BattleofAShauRealTime

1730 March 11, 1966 Sgt. Bennie Adkins uses his sawed-off shotgun as an antenna, rigging a damaged radio to make contact with support planes. #BattleofAShauRealTime

1800 March 11, 1966 Two helicopters come in to rescue Sgt. Bennie Adkins group. One was shot down leaving its crew on the ground with Adkins. The other helicopter had to empty. #BattleofAShauRealTime

1830 March 11, 1966 Sgt. Bennie Adkins and his group, now with the helicopter crew in their ranks, return to the jungle evading the tracking enemy. They tuck in to rest with the NVA all around them. #BattleofAShauRealTime

0400 March 12, 1966 In the early morning hours, the stranded men in Sgt. Bennie Adkins’ group are resting as quietly as possible under the cover of the jungle and can hear the voices of the NVA close by. #BattleofAShauRealTime

0430 March 12, 1966 Sgt. Bennie Adkins and his group begin to hear noises that are not NVA. An Indochinese tiger is drawn to them by the smell of their blood and crud. #BattleofAShauRealTime

0435 March 12, 1966 The tiger circles the group for some time but does not attack. The tiger’s presence frights off the NVA long enough for Sgt. Bennie Adkins and his group to escape again. #BattleofAShauRealTime

0730 March 12, 1966 Many of the remaining members of Lt. Col. C.A. House’s larger group of evacuees are lifted out of the jungle. #BattleofAShauRealTime

1400 March 12, 1966 After 38 hours of battle, and 44 hours of evading the enemy, Sgt. Bennie Adkins and his group are lifted out by helicopters under heavy enemy fire. #BattleofAShauRealTime

September 15, 2014 Sgt. Major Bennie G. Adkins receives the Medal of Honor for his actions in the A Shau Valley from March 9, 1966 to March 12, 1966.

We would like to extend a huge “Thank You” to all of the sponsors that supported CSM Bennie G. Adkins (Ret.) Foundation (BAF) Walk for Warriors! We teamed up w/ BAF to support their scholarship program for US Army Special Forces NCOs. Learn more about BAF: bennieadkinsfoundation.org