Eugene Adkins was born on March 21, 1919, in Johnson City, Tennessee. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps on December 21, 1940, and after completing basic training, he was trained as a flight engineer and aerial gunner on B-17 Flying Fortress bombers. TSgt Adkins deployed to England with the 324th Bomb Squadron of the 91st Bomb Group in September 1942, and flew several missions aboard the famous B-17 Memphis Belle before getting frostbite and being reassigned to another crew. After completing his tour and returning to the United States, he received a direct commission to 2d Lt on August 8, 1943, and served the remainder of the war as a Gunnery Officer in the United States. Lt Adkins left active duty on November 14, 1945, but returned to active duty as a Master Sergeant on November 27, 1945. MSgt Adkins served as a B-29 Superfortress Crew Chief until he was recommissioned as a 1st Lt on January 14, 1949. His next assignment was as an Aircraft Armament and Ordnance Officer with the 27th Maintenance Squadron at Karney AFB, Nebraska, from January to April 1949, followed by service as a B-50 Superfortress Gunnery Officer with the 97th Bomb Wing at Biggs AFB, Texas, from May 1949 to October 1953. Capt Adkins served as a B-29 Gunnery Officer with the 19th Bomb Wing at Kadena AB, Okinawa, from October 1953 to June 1954, and then as a B-36 Peacemaker Gunnery Officer with the 6th Bomb Wing at Walker AFB, New Mexico, from July 1954 to March 1955. Capt Adkins then attended the Aircraft Maintenance Officer Course at Mather AFB, California, from March to August 1955. His next assignment was as a B-36 and B-52 Stratofortress Maintenance Officer with the 42nd Bomb Squadron of the 11th Bomb Wing at Carswell AFB, Texas, and then at Altus AFB, Oklahoma, from September 1955 to February 1959, followed by service as an Aircraft Maintenance Staff Officer and Chief of the Alert Branch with the 11th Organizational Maintenance Squadron of the 11th Bomb Wing at Altus AFB from February 1959 to January 1960. Maj Adkins' final assignment was as a Ground Support Equipment Branch Officer and Officer in Charge of the Aerospace Repair Branch with the 11th Field Maintenance Squadron at Altus AFB from January 1960 until his retirement from the Air Force on April 1, 1961. Eugene Adkins died on November 3, 1995, and was buried at the Mountain Home National Cemetery in Johnson City, Tennessee.