Adkinson, Vinson Bryon Iii

Vinson Bryon Adkinson III was born on October 29, 1983, in Wichita, Kansas, and grew up in Harper. He enlisted in the U.S. Army and served as a Staff Sergeant with Company A, 173rd Brigade Support Battalion, part of the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team based in Bamberg, Germany. He was deployed to Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.

On August 31, 2010, Adkinson was at Forward Operating Base Shank in Logar Province. According to the Department of Defense, he died from wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device. The attack occurred in the vicinity of the base, which was a major hub for coalition forces in the volatile province.

Adkinson's death occurred during a period of intense fighting in Afghanistan. The 173rd Airborne Brigade was operating in the country's eastern region, an area where insurgent forces frequently employed IEDs and indirect fire against coalition and Afghan government targets. The U.S. troop surge, aimed at stabilizing the country, was underway in 2010, which saw a peak in American casualties.

The Department of Defense announced his death on September 1, 2010. His body was returned to the United States, and he was buried in Harper Cemetery. His family and the community of Harper held memorial services in his honor.

Staff Sergeant Adkinson was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, and Meritorious Service Medal. He is remembered on memorials in his hometown and by his unit. His name is inscribed on the Afghanistan War Memorial at the University of Kansas.

Staff Sergeant Adkinson was killed during Operation Enduring Freedom (2001?2014). The conflict concluded in December 2014. See the full roster of those killed in this conflict.

Among those documented in the same conflict: Andrews, Evander Earl, Edmunds, Jonn Joseph, Stonesifer, Kristofor Tif, Davis, Bryant Leroy.

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