‘Brave Rifles’ say goodbye to fallen comrade

Photo By Staff Sgt. Erik Warren | Pvt. Michael Brewer (foreground) and Sgt. Jeffrey Petre, both with Troop B, 1st Squadron, 3rd Cavalry Regiment, give their final respects to their fallen teammate, Pfc. Gregory Adkins, after a memorial at the Spirit of Fort Hood Chapel June 11 on Fort Hood. The troopers worked closely with Adkins, who died unexpectedly of a heart condition. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Erik Warren, 3rd Cavalry Regiment Public Affairs/released)  

FORT HOOD, TX, UNITED STATES

06.17.2014

Story by Spc. Erik Warren 

3d Cavalry Regiment Public Affairs Office

FORT HOOD, Texas - Troopers from the 3rd Cavalry Regiment held a memorial service at the Spirit of Fort Hood Chapel June 11 for Pfc. Gregory Adkins, a machine gunner from Troop B, 1st Platoon, 1st Squadron, 3rd Cavalry Regiment.

Adkins passed away from an unforeseen heart complication.

At the ceremony, Adkins’ close friend, Pvt. Michael Brewer, also from 1st Platoon, spoke of the dedication Adkins displayed by his eagerness to participate in the unit’s upcoming deployment to Afghanistan.

“Greg was always there to help us out, big or small – if someone in the troop needed to borrow some cash or needed a ride, Greg would do anything within his power to lend a hand,” Brewer said. “He would square me away not because it was his duty, rather because that’s the kind of guy he was.”

Capt. Andrew Coleman, commander, Troop B, spoke during the memorial and said that Adkins loved being in uniform and doing his job.

“While at (the National Training Center in Fort Irwin, California), 1st Platoon had just returned from a mission, and the troopers were all tired from a three-day mission in the field,” Coleman said. “Before they could rest and refit for another mission, they had to clean their weapons. I looked around and saw one Soldier who was absolutely filthy. I walked over and asked, ‘Adkins are you OK?’ He looked up at me and replied with a smile and face covered in dirt and said, ‘I’m good sir.’ All I could think of is that infantryman loves his job.”

The members of the troop, along with the majority of the 3rd Cavalry Regiment, are in the final stages of preparation for their deployment to Afghanistan. But even as they deploy without Adkins in their ranks, his former comrades insist he will be there in spirit.

Brewer said, “Troop B will take the memory of Pfc. Adkins, and the example he set, forward to Afghanistan.”

• Date Taken: 06.17.2014
• Date Posted: 06.18.2014 12:49
• Story ID: 133491
• Location: FORT HOOD, TX, US