Thomas Atkins was born on February 5, 1921, in Campobello, South Carolina. He enlisted in the U.S. Army on December 9, 1942, and went on active duty for basic training beginning on December 16, 1942. Pvt Atkins attended basic training and infantry training at Fort McClellan, Alabama, from December 1942 to May 1943, and he then deployed to the Southwest Pacific Area, leaving from San Francisco, California, on May 6, 1943. After arriving in Australia on May 21, 1943, he was assigned to Company A, 127th Infantry Regiment, of the 32nd Infantry Division, in June 1943. PFC Atkins participated in combat operations at Aitape in New Guinea from April to August 1944, at Leyte, Philippine Islands, from November to December 1944, and during the Luzon Campaign in the Philippine Islands from February 1945 until he returned to the United States in August 1945. During this time he was wounded in action on December 16, 1944, and on March 10, 1945. After returning to the United States, Cpl Atkins was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Harry S. Truman at the White House on October 12, 1945, for his heroism in action in the Philippines on March 10, 1945. He was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army two days later, on October 14, 1945. Thomas Atkins died on September 15, 1999, and was buried at Fellowship Baptist Church Cemetery in Holly Springs, South Carolina.

His Medal of Honor Citation reads:

He fought gallantly on the Villa Verde Trail, Luzon, Philippine Islands. With two companions he occupied a position on a ridge outside the perimeter defense established by the 1st Platoon on a high hill. At about 0300 hours, two companies of Japanese attacked with rifle and machine-gun fire, grenades, TNT charges and land mines, severely wounding Pfc. Atkins and killing his two companions. Despite the intense hostile fire and pain from his deep wound, he held his ground and returned heavy fire. After the attack was repulsed, he remained in his precarious position to repel any subsequent assaults instead of returning to the American lines for medical treatment. An enemy machine gun, set up within 20 yards of his foxhole, vainly attempted to drive him off or silence his gun. The Japanese repeatedly made fierce attacks, but for four hours Pfc. Atkins determinedly remained in his foxhole, bearing the brunt of each assault and maintaining steady and accurate fire until each charge was repulsed. At 7:00 A.M., 13 enemy dead lay in front of his position; he had fired 400 rounds, all he and his two dead companions possessed, and had used three rifles until each had jammed too badly for further operation. He withdrew during a lull to secure a rifle and more ammunition, and was persuaded to remain for medical treatment. While waiting, he saw a Japanese within the perimeter and, seizing a nearby rifle, killed him. A few minutes later, while lying on a litter, he discovered an enemy group moving up behind the platoon's lines. Despite his severe wounds he sat up, delivered heavy rifle fire against the group, and forced them to withdraw. Pfc. Atkins' superb bravery and his fearless determination to hold his post against the main force of repeated enemy attacks, even though painfully wounded, were major factors in enabling his comrades to maintain their lines against a numerically superior enemy force.