[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 193 (Thursday, December 15, 2011)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages E2278-E2279] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] RECOGNIZING THE ADKINS BROTHERS FOR ONE HUNDRED FOUR YEARS OF MILITARY SERVICE ______ HON. NICK J. RAHALL II of west virginia in the house of representatives Thursday, December 15, 2011 Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, in southern West Virginia, ``family'' has a very special and sacred meaning. Its definition goes far beyond the traditional; more than a group of individuals related by blood or marriage. It is an ideal that transcends all West Virginians; an institution protected, trusted and revered by all. It is the core thread woven into and throughout the fabric of the values we treasure most. Today, I rise to honor a family of West Virginians from the Logan County community of Pine Creek, in the coalfields of southern West Virginia. They are nine brothers, nine of the eleven sons of the late Olive and Oscar Adkins, who collectively served in our Nation's military for more than 100 years. This is truly a ``band of brothers'' for which our Nation owes a debt of gratitude. Shakespeare outlined the honor and drew distinction for the Band of Brothers in the famous St. Crispin's Day speech, a motivational speech delivered to troops about to enter battle in Act IV of the play, Henry V: Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot, but he'll remember with advantages what feats he did that day. Then shall our names, familiar . . . as household words . . . be in their flowing cups freshly rememb'red. This story shall the good man teach his son . . . from this day to the ending of the world, But we in it shall be remembered--we few, we happy few, we band of brothers; For he today that sheds his blood with me; shall be my brother . . . Fate was kind to the nine Adkins brothers. None were seriously injured, and all returned home safely, although many who served with them were not so lucky. All the Adkins brothers were honorably discharged, and all were proud to serve their country. The pride in this remarkable record of military service is shared by their parents, two other brothers, Hobart and Robert, and four sisters, Madeline, Ruth, Lyndell, and Iris. The nine who served include Harvey, who was in the U.S. Army during World War II from 1943 to 1946; Jason, who was in the U.S. Army at the end of World War II in 1945 and 1946, then again from 1952 to 1955 during the Korean Conflict; Leon, who served in the Air Force from 1948 to 1952 in the Korean Conflict; Billy, who served in both the Army and Air Force from 1948 to 1954; Lowell, who [[Page E2279]] served in the U.S. Air Force from 1954 to 1974 in both Thailand and Vietnam; Franklin, who served in both U.S. Air Force and Army from 1956 to 1976; Vernon, who joined the Army and served from 1958 to 1979; Linden, who served in the Army from 1965 to 1967; and Clifton, who served in the Army from 1959 to 1981. Selfless service and sacrifice are the twin pillars supporting our Republic. Surely, these values, so important to the future vigor of our democratic principles, were instilled in the Adkins Brothers by devoted and dedicated parents. Such a record of service is not happenstance or coincidence; rather, it is a record built with an abiding faith in the Almighty's continued blessings on this land of liberty. Mr. Speaker, in sum, the Adkins brothers share 104 years of U.S. military service, a milestone record of service, that I hope the U.S. Department of Defense will soon formally recognize. I ask my colleagues to join me in acknowledging my fellow West Virginians as true American patriots and to thank them for their distinguished service to our great Nation. ____________________