Date of Birth: 08/25/1946
Neighborhood: North Philadelphia
High School: Overbrook High School
Street: N. Franklin Street
Branch of Service: Army
Rank: SP4
Date of Casualty: 02/23/1969
Province of Casualty: Tay Ninh
Philadelphia Memorial Panel: Panel 2
Panel Row: 3
Click on the memorial panel below for a printable photo of the serviceman on this page.
Atkinson began a family tradition when he enlisted in the Army in November 1965: three of his four brothers followed his lead by joining the Armed Forces, The 22-year-old specialist four, a medic with Headquarters and Headquarters Company of the 56th Engineer Battalion, 25th Infantry Division, was on his second tour of duty in Vietnam when he died on Feb. 23, 1969, in an attack on the Dau Tieng Base Camp, Atkinson saved his sergeant and refused to leave wounded comrades before he lost his own life. He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star. The former Overbrook High School student was survived by his parents, four brothers and three sisters.