| Travis Atkins | |
| Birth Date: | 9 December 1975 |
| Birth Place: | Great Falls, Montana, United States |
| Death Place: | Yusufiyah, Iraq |
| Placeofburial: | Sunset Hills Cemetery, Bozeman, Montana |
| Allegiance: | United States |
| Branch: | United States Army |
| Serviceyears: | 2000–2003 2005–2007 |
| Rank: | Staff Sergeant |
| Unit: | 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division 1st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division[1] |
| Battles: | Iraq War |
| Awards: | Medal of Honor Bronze Star Purple Heart Army Commendation Medal (2) Army Achievement Medal |
Travis William Atkins[1] (December 9, 1975 – June 1, 2007) was a soldier in the United States Army. President Donald Trump awarded him the Medal of Honor posthumously on March 27, 2019.[2] [3] [4] While serving with the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the 10th Mountain Division in Iraq, he sacrificed his own life to shield three fellow soldiers from an insurgent who was wearing and activated an explosive vest.[5]
Atkins was originally awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions. The accompanying citation reads:[6] [7]
His son Trevor accepted the award From President Donald Trump, along with his sister Jennifer, his mom, and grandparents. Also in attendance were the Vice-president, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, and the Secretary of the Army, as well as five previous living recipients of the award, and numerous distinguished members of the military. Witnesses to the award also included the three men whose lives Atkins saved in his selfless act.
The president said of Atkins, “He did not run. He didn't know what it was to run. He acted in the tradition of the 10th Mountain Division in his 'climb to glory.'”
| Medal of Honor | ||
| Bronze Star Medal | ||
| Purple Heart | ||
| Army Commendation Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster | ||
| Army Achievement Medal | ||
| Army Presidential Unit Citation | ||
| Valorous Unit Award with oak leaf cluster | ||
| Army Meritorious Unit Commendation | ||
| Army Good Conduct Medal | ||
| National Defense Service Medal | ||
| Iraq Campaign Medal with four bronze service stars | ||
| Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal | ||
| Global War on Terrorism Service Medal | ||
| Army Service Ribbon | ||
| Army Overseas Service Ribbon with bronze award numeral 1 |
In June 2012, the ceremony room at the Military Entrance Processing Station in Butte, Montana was named in honor of Atkins.[8] In January 2013, the Mountain Functional Fitness Facility at Fort Drum in the state of New York was renamed in his honor.[5]