William Thomas Adkins Jr.

   Cause of his death was Cardiac Arrest / Coronary Arterosclerotic Disease.

  General Notes:

V.M.I. Archives On Line Rosters Database
William Thomas Adkins
V.M.I. Class of 1931
Matriculated: September 10, 1927
Dropped: June 15, 1928


The 1940 Federal Census for Washington D. C., District 1-242, page 48B, dated April 21, 1940 [image 18 of 36 at www.ancestry.com] records Wm T. jr. (30 - VA) and Marery T. (28 - Iowa) Adkins renting a place at 3014 1/2 R Street. William is an Electrical Appliance Salesman for Catlins Furniture Company and Margery is a Stenographer for the Federal Government. William worked 52 weeks in the last year and earned $466 while Margery worked 52 weeks and earned $1,770. William indicates that he has had 1 year of college as does Margery. Also in the household is William's widowed mother-in-law, Marie S. Marks (62 - Iowa), who reports having been through 4 years of high school.

U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946
Name: William T Adkins Jr
Birth Year: 1909
Race: White, citizen (White)
Nativity State or Country: Virginia
State of Residence: Virginia
County or City: Arlington
Enlistment Date: 6 Nov 1943
Enlistment State: Virginia
Enlistment City: Fort Myer
Branch: No branch assignment
Branch Code: No branch assignment
Grade: Private
Grade Code: Private
Term of Enlistment: Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law
Component: Selectees (Enlisted Men)
Source: Civil Life
Education: 1 year of college
Civil Occupation: Salemen, to consumers
Marital Status: Married
Height: 00
Weight: 000


U.S. Veterans Gravesites, ca.1775-2006
Name: William T Jr Adkins
Service Info.: AR United States Army
Service Info.: PFC CO C 186 ENGR BN CE USA
Birth Date: 25 Sep 1909
Death Date: 14 Feb 1982
Service Start Date: 27 Nov 1943
Interment Date: 17 Feb 1982
Cemetery: Arlington National Cemetery
Cemetery Address: C/O Director Arlington, VA 22211
Buried At: Section 37 Site 2825

  Research Notes:

The 186th Combat Engineer Battalion was activated on November 5, 1943 at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. The Battalion completed basic combat training at Ft. Jackson and then received orders for Camp Forrest, Tennessee to assist in training the 2nd Army Mine School. Upon completion of this assignment, the Battalion moved back to Ft. Jackson to complete unit training, however, this training was interrupted when the Battalion received orders for moving overseas. On November 16, 1944, the Battalion found itself on board the SS Sea Scamp and then arrived in Hollandia, New Guinea on the 15th of December.
Upon disembarking the Scamp, the Battalion immediately made preparations for their first operation. On the 29th of December, they were loaded onto LSTs and made their way to operations already under way in Luzon, Philippines. The battalion landed at Lingayen Gulf, Philippines and saw combat action for the first time on January 11, 1945 ... In the landing at Lingayen Gulf, Philippines, the 186th Engineer Combat Battalion encountered more opposition from the Japanese than any other combat battalion. Six soldiers were killed and two wounded. Once ashore, the battalion improved roads and built a Bailey bridge over a nearby river. ... battalion operations stretched from Lingayen Gulf to Tuguegarao in the Cagayen Valley.

The battalion's first assignment on Luzon was the construction of the longest bailey bridge in the entire pacific (a bailey bridge is a temporary structure designed for quick construction). 74 other bridges were also constructed or repaired and 245 miles of road were built or improved. The battalion was also responsible for the completion of two airstrips.

While preparing for another operation, word came that the Japanese had surrendered, so the battalion was loaded onto LSTs once more and set sail for mainland Japan -- for occupation duties. They arrived at Wakayama, Japan on October 20, 1945 but was diverted for duties at Nagoya. The battalion took up duties under the Nagoya base headquarters on the 23rd of October.

During the battalions time in the Philippines, they operated under I Corps and directly supported the 25th Infantry Division. During this time, the 186th also found themselves in combat operations with XIV Corps in support of 27th Division.

For their work in the Philippines, the battalion was awarded the Meritorious Service Unit Plaque (See Citation Below*) and other citations and awards.

Many thanks to Veteran Bob Callaghan for the above information. Mr. Callaghan was a member of the 186th from it's activation until it's deactivation.


*HEADQUARTERS______CORPS
APO _______

31 May 1945

GENERAL ORDERS
NUMBER _____

AWARD OF THE MERITORIOUS SERVICE UNIT PLAQUE

Pursuant to the authority contained in WD Circular No. 345 dated 23 August 1944, as amended by WD Circular 421, dated 26 October 1944, a Meritorious Service Unit Plaque is awarded by the Commanding General, ____ Corps, to the 186th Engineer Combat Battalion, for meritorious service on ______, Philippine Islands, from 28 January 1945 to 17 May 1945.

Throughout this period the 186th Engineer Combat Battalion was in support of ____ Corps as a construction unit. It was given the mission to construct two lane all-weather routes of communication behind the rapidly advancing Corps units along the route ____, ____, ____, ____. This entailed the reconstruction of a one lane cobble-stone track into a two lane, all weather, thirty five ton capacity highway fifty miles in length. Some stretches of the road required fills of over six feet in order to cross flood plains or river basins; others required the cutting of high walls of rock to provide two way access into the mountains. Two Bailey bridges were erected; twenty-one units totaling 1400 linear feet of timber bridges were erected or reconstructed; five timber truss bridges; eight timber box culverts and numerous other culverts were installed. A total of 30,000 yards of gravel and 110,919 yards of fill were moved. This was accomplished against time and in the face of many obstacles. At a critical period during construction, timber and piling became unavailable. Although not responsible for supply the unit went into the woods and cut its own piles and felled logs to be cut into timbers. Enemy action caused the loss of two dump trucks and damage to five. This loss and other equipment failures were met by immediate repairs in their own shops. The battalion's mission was equal in scope to that normally assigned a construction battalion. Despite the fact that its equipment and personnel comprised only two thirds of that authorized the heavier construction battalion, it overcame this handicap by thorough job organization and aggressive, efficient prosecution of the work. The spirit of the battalion admitted no obstacles and overcame a shortage of materials, equipment and personnel by anticipating these problems and taking prompt action to cope with them. The devotion to duty displayed by the personnel of the battalion while working through long tedious hours under adverse conditions, its aggressiveness and enthusiasm in the performance of its duties and the successful accomplishment of its mission were directly responsible for the excellent lines of communication furnished the Corps for its operations against the enemy.

BY COMMAND OF MAJOR GENERAL ______________:

  Medical Notes:

Virginia, Death Records, 1912-2014
Name: William T Adkins Jr (widowed)
Residence: 2300 Sotyh 24th Road, Arlington
Occupation: Real Estate Salesman
Gender: Male
Race: White
Age at Death: 72
Birth Date: 25 Sep 1909
Death Date: 14 Feb 1982
Death Place: Arlington Hospital, Arlington, Virginia
Burial: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington County, Virginia
Registration Date: 16 Feb 1982
Father: William Thomas Adkins
Mother: Lula Ossie Belcher
Spouse: Marjorie Marks Adkins
Certificate Number: 1982004975
Military Status: yes
Informant: W. Thomas Adkins III

William married Margery Marks, daughter of Russell Almeron Marks and Marie Pratt Shelley, on 2 Oct 1937. (Margery Marks was born on 15 Jun 1911 in Sioux City, Iowa, died on 28 Dec 1965 in Falls Church, Fairfax Co., Virginia and was buried in Buried at: Section 37, Site 2825 Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va.) The cause of her death was Mucous Plugs of Major and Minor Bronchi and Bronchioles consistent with Status asthmaticus.