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  • Empire native and Army Ranger, Vinson Bryon “Trinity” Adkinson III was killed Tuesday in Afghanistan by an improvised explosive device (IED). Duncan Banner

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September 1, 2010

P.M. update: Empire soldier killed in Afghanistan

Kevin Kerr The Duncan Banner

EMPIRE — Empire native and Army Ranger, Vinson Bryon “Trinity” Adkinson III was killed Tuesday in Afghanistan by an improvised explosive device (IED) that exploded near his unit, killing him and four additional soldiers.

Adkinson, who was also known by “Trinity” because he was the third Vinson in his family, was the “guy everyone loved,” according to his younger brother Jacob. Many of his friends knew him by his nickname “T-Bird” while he was in school at Empire. He left Empire when he was a junior and moved to Kansas to live with his aunt before he graduated in 2003. He immediately entered into the military, according to his close friend Chase Hutto.

“He went straight in,” Hutto said. “He was dedicated to it, but he would always look me up when he was back in the area.”

Vinson was a Staff Sgt. E6 Army Ranger, and part of the 173rd Airborne Division, based out of Hamburg, Germany. He served five tours, three in Iraq and was serving his second tour in Afghanistan, and was going on his eighth year overseas. But Jacob said Vinson’s time spent in the military was just where he wanted to be.

“He was every bit of a soldier,” Jacob said. “It sounds like that thing you always hear, but he lived his life to serve his country. He loved every bit of it.”

Jacob said that his brother was very proud of everything he got to do with the military and was very thankful for the experiences he had while in the Army.

“He got to see and do things that he never thought he would do and he appreciated it,” Jacob said. “He loved his friends and his battle buddies. The Army was his family, his home.”

Jacob said he talked to his brother almost daily and when he was stateside, he would look up Jacob to spend time with him. He said Vinson was the classic big brother while they grew up, and that they had their fair share of spats.

“But that stuff turned me into a man. He was my best friend and I knew him inside and out,” Jacob said. “And he’s really the main reason I joined the military.”

Vinson is survived by his father, Vinson Bryon Adkinson II; his sister, Mary Kay Adkinson; his brother, Jacob; and his grandmother, Mary Ellen Adkinson.

It is unknown exactly when Vinson will be brought home, but Hutto said there are plans to have a memorial service locally and that Jacob is working to have him buried in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va.



— Kevin Kerr is a reporter for The Duncan Banner. He can be reached at 580-255-5354 Ext. 147 or by e-mail at kevin.kerr@duncanbanner.com.

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