Army Sergeant First Class Charles Adkins

Army Sergeant First Class Charles Lewis Adkins, 36, of Clarksville, TN, was assigned to the 101st Special Troops Battalion, 101st Sustainment Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, KY. He was killed April 16, 2011, at Forward Operating Base Gamberi, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when an Afghan National Army soldier attacked him with multiple grenades.

A 1993 graduate of Margaretta High School in Castalia, OH, SFC Adkins enlisted in November 1995. SFC Adkins was deployed to Afghanistan in November 2010, his third overseas tour during his 16 years in the Army. His two previous tours were in Iraq. His current mission was to train Afghan soldiers at a base in the eastern part of the country. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart.

SFC Adkins was known for his big, goofy smile and booming laugh. He married his high school sweetheart, and they had five, beautiful children. SFC Adkins’ son remembered that his dad told the best jokes and was a great basketball player. He was also an avid Cleveland Browns fan.

SFC Adkins was survived by his wife, two sons and three daughters.