This Military Service Page was created/owned by
A3C Michael S. Bell
to remember
Atkins, James, Lt Col.
If you knew or served with this Airman and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
Contact Info
Home Town Camas
Last Address Vancouver, WA
Date of Passing Nov 04, 2009
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
REMEMBRANCE IN PROGRESS - SUBJECT TO CHANGE ------ From Patriot Guard Riders:
07 Nov 2009 2:35 AM
Ladies & Gentlemen of the Patriot Guard, we have been invited by the family of Lt. Col. James Atkins, USAF Retired to honor him at his service followed by a graveside service with full Military Honors. James served tours in WW II, Korea and Vietnam. James served with the Strategic Air Command as a navigator in B52?s.
Ride Captain: Steve Guild
Friday, Nov.13
Staging at Pendleton Woolen Mill Parking lot in Washougal, WA.
Staging time: 0820 hrs
Ride Brief: 0840 hrs
KSU: 0850 hrs
Flag line in place: 0900 hrs
Flag line dismiss when service starts approximately 1000 hrs
Flag line in place at Fisher?s Cemetery in Vancouver, WA. 1230 hrs
5 bike escort in place at church 1200 hrs
Graveside Service: 1300 hrs
If you are interested in riding in the 5 man missing man escort please contact me.
Today we stood for James G. Atkins, Sr. Lt. Colonel USAF (ret.). Lt. Colonel Atkins served tours in four wars if you include the Cold War. He flew in B-29's during WW II in the South Pacific, he worked on the B-36 Project in the late 1940's and he flew in B-29's over North Korea. James flew in B-47's in the early Cold War mid 1950's before transitioning to the B-52's, with flights over the North Pole, the Cuban Missile Crisis and missions over Vietnam. We were honored to stand, ride and salute this veteran in the rain at his memorial service, the Escort to the cemetery and grave-side services. We had 12 PGR, 2 cages, 9 bikes, one long rider from Tacoma. The family was very thankful for our honors as we were honored to stand for this man that has stood for us. Thank you to all that showed, You made this a very easy yet Stand-Out mission.
Steve Guild Clark Co. Ride Captain
Vietnam War/Cease-Fire Campaign (1972-73)
From Month/Year
March / 1972
To Month/Year
January / 1973
Description
0n March 30, 1972, the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong opened a 3-pronged offensive, with the intention of defeating the Republic of Vietnam and reuniting Vietnam under a Communist regime, in a conventional attack supported with artillery and tarnks, the North Vietnamese crossed the DMZ into Quang Tri Province, occupying Quang Tri, the provincial capital, on May 1 and attacking Hue. In a second thrust, the Communists invaded the Central Highlands from Laos, isolating Kontum and cutting the highway between Pleiku and Qui Nhon. On April 5 North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces crossed the border from Cambodia in the third phase of the offensive, capturing Loc Ninh on April 6 and besieging An Loc. By May 8, however, the enemy offensive had stalled; on June 10 the Communists withdrew from Kontum and on the 26th from An Loc. Two days later the Nonh Vietnamese retreated from Quang Tri, and on June 30 the South Vietnamese reopened the road to Pleiku.
U.S. air power contributed significantly to the battle. Although the USAF had reduced its forces in Southeast Asia to half of those present in mid-1968, it moved quickly to augment them. U.S. Navy. Marine. and Army aviation elements joined the USAF to provide airlift. interdiction. tactical reconnaissance, and close air support for the South Vietnamese. A week after the Communist offensive began. on April 6. the United States resumed systematic, sustained bombing of military and industrial targets in North Vietnam as far north as the 20th parallel. The next day Gen. John W. Vogt. Jr., USAF, became the Seventh Air Force Commander. On May 4 South Vietnamese and U.S. leaders suspended peace negotiations in Paris, and 4 days later, the United States imposed a naval blockade of North Vietnam, mining harbors at Haiphong, Vinh, and elsewhere along the coast. The United States also initiated LINEBACKER on May 8 - 1 of the largest air campaigns of the war. Targets included the rebuilt Paul Dourner Bridge in Hanoi, the Thanh Hoa Bridge, rail lines, a petroleum pipeline from China to Hanoi. power plants. marshaling yards, and other strategic and tactical objectives throughout North Vietnam. During Linebacker, on June 28. Gen. Frederick C. Weyand. USA, became the Commander of MACV.
Peace negotiations, suspended for two weeks, resurned in Paris on July 13, Anticipating a successful conclusion to the renewed peace talks. the United States halted the bombing of North Vietnsn above the 20th parallel as of October 23. But when negotiations stalled, the United States conducted an intensive aerial offensive, LINEBACKER ll, from December 18 to 30, against North Vietnam. B-52s and USAF and Navy tactical aircraft bombed Hanoi and Haiphong and their environs around the clock, concentrating on such targets as railyards, power plants, communication facilities, air defense radars, SAM and antiaircraft gun sites, petroleum tank farms, shipping facilities, ammunition dumps, and
MiG bases. On December 30, after peace talks resumed, the United States again ceased bombing north of the 20th parallel.
On January 23, 1973, North Vietnam and the United States agreed to a cease-fire, effective within 5 days. Part of the agreement called for the
North Vietnamese to release prisoners of war while the United States withdrew completely from South Vietnam. From February 12 to March 29, following the Vietnam Ceasefire, North Vietnam released 565 American POWs. ln OPERATION HOMECOMING, the 9th Aeromedical
Evacuation Group flew the POWs from Hanoi to Clark Air Base in the Philippines.
After the Vietnam Ceasefire Campaign, the Royal Laotian government signed a cease-fire agreement with the Pathet Lao on February 21, 1973.
USAF B-52s. nevertheless, flew missions against Communist forces in Cambodia until August 15, 1973, when the U.S. Congress mandated an
end to U.S. bombing in Southeast Asia.
The fighting had ended for American forces, but the Communists, resupplied and reequipped, soon escalated the ground war throughout
Southeast Asia. Within 2 years, on April 17. 1975. the Khmer Rougeoccupied all of Cambodia. On April 30 North Vietnam conquered South
Vietnam and unified the country. And on December 3, 1975, the Pathet Lao seized power in Laos, marking an end to an era of U.S. influence
in Southeast Asia.
