Charles Winfred Atkins, Fayetteville, joined the Arkansas National Guard in 1980 as a member of the 101st Armored Cavalry Regiment, 39th Infantry Brigade. Upon graduating from the University of Central Arkansas in 1981, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Regular Army. He served until retiring as a Major in 2009.

In 2006, while leading a convoy near the city of Al Karma, Iraq, he twice encountered intense small arms fire and improvised explosive devices (IEDs), resulting in the deaths of four Iraqi soldiers, four U.S. soldiers, and two U.S. Marines. He successfully evacuated the wounded and the deceased, and continued the convoy movement until his Humvee was hit by an IED hidden in a pothole filled with water, wounding himself, three soldiers, one Marine, and an Iraqi translator. Despite the injuries, they completed their movement to their forward operating base before being medically evacuated.

Throughout his distinguished career, he earned numerous awards, including the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, four Army Commendation Medals, Master Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, and Parachute Rigger Badge.

Following his retirement, he joined the Military Order of the Purple Heart, where he was named the Department of Arkansas Patriot of the Year in 2015. He currently serves as its Senior Vice Commander and Chapter Commander.