SGT JAMES FRANKLIN AKINS

 

20 Jun 2006 Dear Jimmy, I just went to the other wall site and saw a picture of you for the first time in nearly 40 years. You looked so handsome and young in your Marine uniform. The last time I saw you you were walking down Main Street in McMinnville near the Park Theater with a girl friend or wife and perhaps heading to the movies. You were in your uniform. They are trying to restore the Park Theater now back home and I will donate some money towards the restoration in your name. My sister Scarlett is here in Virginia visiting me now and she thought you "hung the moon" back then and I will give her the check to carry back to the class reunion in your name. I went to Vietnam in 1971 and spent my year in the Army Infantry and for the most part as a member of Recon, 1/46th, 196th LIB, 23rd Infantry Division. We served in the same AO then where you were killed 4 years before. You are not forgotten Jimmy. I am so sorry you didn't get the chance to live your life and raise your children. God Bless you. From a fellow Vietnam hometown vet, Larry Pistole flytiger@bealenet.com

 

16 Sep 2007 Dear Jimbo, I have just found this site for you and am very proud to have had the privilege of knowing you as a dear friend. I just realized that you were killed 4 years and one day after another great friend of yours and brother of mine, Harold Lee Henry (died 5/18/63). After attending your service, I returned to my base and later decided to volunteer to go. So I left Everett, Washington in December of 67 for DaNang. Just so happens that Larry Pistole and I have meet from time to time in Murfreesboro (Larry, great letter). My dear friend, I salute you for the ultimate sacrifice that you made for all of us. May God Bless you and all fallen soldiers. Rest in peace, my friend. From a friend, Larry (Butch) Henry southeasternener@bellsouth.net

 

A Note from The Virtual Wall During the first half of May 1967 the 3rd Bn, 4th Marines was on Okinawa for refurbishment. They returned to Vietnam on the 16th and immediately were committed to OPERATION HICKORY. HICKORY was conducted in the southern part of the DMZ and was intended to clean out the NVA's infrastructure in the area. On 19 May, India 3/4 was hit by four 82mm mortar rounds, killing four men: 2ndLt Leo J. Kelly, Pittsburgh, PA; Sgt James F. Akins, Smartt, TN; HN John A. Hollingsworth, Little Rock, AR, Corpsman, H&S with India 3/4; and Pfc Thomas A. Ronald, Tuscarawas, OH. Linda F. Summers Akins, 63 April 20, 2008 MUNCIE - Linda F. Summers Akins, 63, passed away Friday morning, April 18, 2008 at her home. She was born November 25, 1944 in Muncie, the daughter of Bertha (Shirley) Summers and Fred Summers. Linda moved to McMinnville, Tennessee as a child. She grew up in Tennessee and graduated from Central High School in McMinnville. Linda married James Franklin Akins in 1964. She moved back to the Muncie area in the early 1970's. Survivors include her daughter, Angie Akins, Muncie; one brother, John Summers, (wife-Bettie), Muncie; one sister, Reba Walker, (husband-Leroy), McMinnville, Tennessee; a sister-in-law, Rosemary Summers, Chattanooga, Tennessee; her mother-in-law and step father-in-law, Helen and Randolf Newby, McMinnville, Tennessee; two sisters-in-law, Randie Parks, (husband-Michael), Ohio and Kim Thrasher, (husband-Rusty), New York, NY; her father-in-law, Frank Akins, Rockingham, North Carolina; three brothers-in-law, Kenneth Akins, (wife-Judy), Rockingham, North Carolina; Joe Frank Akins, Ft. Myers, Florida and Kevin Akins, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; a sister-in-law, Sarah Kidd, (husband-Hal), Charlotte, North Carolina; several nieces and nephews and lots of special friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, James Franklin Akins who was killed in Viet Nam on May 19, 1967 on his second tour of duty; her brother, Waymon Summers; her step mother-in-law, Jackie Akins and her sister-in-law, Keiko Akins. Copyright The Star Press, Muncie, IN Apr 20, 2008 Reproduced under 17 USC ï¿ 1/2 107

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