Vietnam Veterans Receive Medal of Honor

WASHINGTON -- Bennie Adkins and Donald Sloat, who served in the Vietnam War, were awarded the highest military honor on Monday during a ceremony at the White House.

The Medal of Honor was presented to Adkins as the 54th living recipient who fought in Vietnam. William Sloat, accepted the award for his brother, allowing Sloat to join 204 deceased Medal of Honor recipients who served in the war that ran from November 1955 to April 1975.

Adkins, a a command sergeant major, was badly wounded while rescuing fellow comrades during an enemy attack. He had joined the U.S. Army at age 22 during 1956.

A native of Opelika, Ala., he served in the infantry and special forces, and was deployed to Vietnam three times.

Sloat died Jan. 17, 1970, when he fell on an enemy grenade to shield fellow soldiers from further destruction. Sloat joined the Army in 1969 and was a machine gunner after completing training.

For details of their heroics, visit sunherald.com

South Mississippi, Nation Remember 9/11 Attacks, Victims and Heroes

SOUTH MISSISSIPPI – Across the country, tributes today marked the 13^th year since nearly 3,000 people lost their lives during the terrorists attacks in New York, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania on Sept. 11, 2001.

Following a speech Wednesday night promising to send some 400 more troops to help fight ISIS terrorists threatening the U.S., and who recently beheaded two American journalists, President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama and Vice President Joe Biden observed a moment of silence outside the White House before heading to 9/11 tribute at the Pentagon and in New York.

White House Pauses for Moment of Silence (video)

In South Mississippi, events included a variety of memorials and tributes such as 9/11 Remembrance blood drives in Old Town Presbyterian Church in Bay St. Louis  and at L.H. “Red” Barnett Senior Center in D’Iberville. Both drives were sponsored by the Red Cross, and information can be accessed today at redcrossblood.org using code OTPC for Bay St. Louis and 911DIBERVILLE.  CDC and

A Climb CDC and Americorps 9/11 Service Day was held at Quarles Elementary School in Long Beach. As well, St. Martin High School’s 9/11 Memorial Tribute featured choir and theater students who performed a combination of original material, published poetry recitation, choral performance and reading of victim’s names.