Barry K. Atkins

Infobox Military Person
name= Barry Kennedy Atkins
born= birth date|1911|8|2
died= death date and age|2005|11|15|1911|8|2
placeofbirth= Annapolis, Maryland
placeofdeath= Richmond, Virginia
placeofburial= Arlington National Cemetery


caption= Barry K. Atkins on the bridge of USS "Melvin", 1945.
nickname=
allegiance= United States of America
branch=United States Navy
serviceyears=1932-1959
rank= Rear Admiral
commands= USS "Melvin"
unit=
battles= World War II
awards= Navy Cross Silver Star Bronze Star
laterwork=Rear Admiral Barry Kennedy Atkins (August 2, 1911 – November 15, 2005) was an officer of the United States Navy best known for his achievements as a destroyer captain in World War II.

Atkins graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1932, and was commissioned as a career naval officer. He commanded the destroyer "USS Melvin" in the Pacific Theater of World War II, and received the Navy Cross for "extraordinary heroism" for action during the Battle of Surigao Strait in the Philippines. On October 25, 1944, the "Melvin" fired a torpedo at the Japanese battleship "Fusō", setting off a chain reaction of explosions that sank the ship; according to Jack Green, spokesman at the Naval Historical Center, "the "Melvin" probably was the only destroyer to sink a battleship in World War II." [http://www.wacotrib.com/hp/content/shared-gen/ap/National/Melvins_Men.html]

Atkins also served on the USS "Parrott", USS "Tennessee", and the USS "New Mexico", among other ships, and was decorated with the Silver Star, Bronze Star, and other medals. He retired in October 1959.

Admiral Atkins died at on November 15, 2005 at age 94. He was interred at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors on January 30, 2006.

There has been pressure from crewmen of the "Melvin" to have a ship named after Atkins; the only official response has been that, as one prominent and highly-decorated officer among many, he is eligible for the honor but not guaranteed it.

References

*cite web|accessdate=2007-10-08
url=http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/bkatkins.htm
title=Barry Kennedy Atkins, Rear Admiral, United States Navy
publisher=Arlington National Cemetery website

External links

* [http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/bkatkins.htm Barry Kennedy Atkins] - Arlington National Cemetery's obituary of RDML Atkins
* [http://www.ussholder.com/pas2-atkins.html Portrait of a Shipmate] - short biography of RDML Atkins

Persondata
NAME= Atkins, Barry K.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION= United States Navy admiral
DATE OF BIRTH= August 2, 1911
PLACE OF BIRTH= Annapolis, Maryland
DATE OF DEATH= November 15, 2005
PLACE OF DEATH= Richmond, Virginia