Robert H. Jenkins, Jr.

Infobox Military Person
name= Robert Henry Jenkins, Jr.
born= Birth date|1948|6|1
died= Death date and age|1969|3|5|1948|6|1
placeofbirth= Interlachen, Florida
placeofdeath= DOW in Vietnam
placeofburial=


caption= Medal of Honor recipient
nickname=
allegiance= United States of America
branch= United States Marine Corps
serviceyears= 1968-1969
rank= Private First Class
commands=
unit=3rd ReconBn
battles= Vietnam War
awards= Medal of Honor (1969) Purple Heart
laterwork=

Robert Henry Jenkins, Jr. (June 1, 1948–March 5, 1969) was a United States Marine who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism in Vietnam in March 1969.He attended Oak Grove Elementary School from 1955 until 1963, and Central Academy High School from 1963 until 1967 in Palatka, Florida.

Biography

He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in Jacksonville, Florida on February 2, 1968, and received recruit training with the 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, Recruit Training Regiment, Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina. He was promoted to private first class on April 1, 1968.cite web
accessdate=2007-11-10
url = http://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who/Jenkins_RH.htm
title = Private First Class Robert H. Jenkins, Jr., Medal of Honor recipient
work = Who's who in Marine Corps history
publisher = History Division, United States Marine Corps
date = September 18, 2003]

He transferred to the Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, where he underwent individual combat training with the 2nd Infantry Training Battalion, 1st Infantry Training Regiment, and infantry special training with the 1st Infantry Training Battalion, completing the latter in May 1968.cite web
accessdate=2007-11-10
url = http://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who/Jenkins_RH.htm
title = Private First Class Robert H. Jenkins, Jr., Medal of Honor recipient
work = Who's who in Marine Corps history
publisher = History Division, United States Marine Corps
date = September 18, 2003]

Private First Class Jenkins was transferred to the Republic of Vietnam in July 1968, and assigned to Headquarters and Service Company, 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division. Later that month, he was reassigned as a scout and driver with Company C, 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion.cite web
accessdate=2007-11-10
url = http://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who/Jenkins_RH.htm
title = Private First Class Robert H. Jenkins, Jr., Medal of Honor recipient
work = Who's who in Marine Corps history
publisher = History Division, United States Marine Corps
date = September 18, 2003]

While serving as a machine gunner with Company C at Fire Support Base Argonne, south of the Demilitarized Zone on March 5, 1969, he was killed in action. He was, along with his 12-man recon team, attacked by enemy fire — mortars, machine guns, and grenades. Jenkins and fellow Marine, Fred Ostrom, took up position in a two-man fighting emplacement. When a hand grenade was thrown into the emplacement, Jenkins leaped on top of Ostrom, shielding him from the explosion and absorbing the full impact of the grenade. He was mortally wounded and posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic act and sacrifice of life.cite web
accessdate=2007-11-10
url = http://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who/Jenkins_RH.htm
title = Private First Class Robert H. Jenkins, Jr., Medal of Honor recipient
work = Who's who in Marine Corps history
publisher = History Division, United States Marine Corps
date = September 18, 2003]

The Medal of Honor was presented to his family at the White House by Vice President Spiro T. Agnew on 20 Apr 1970cite web
accessdate=2007-11-10
url = http://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who/Jenkins_RH.htm
title = Private First Class Robert H. Jenkins, Jr., Medal of Honor recipient
work = Who's who in Marine Corps history
publisher = History Division, United States Marine Corps
date = September 18, 2003]

Jenkins is buried at Sister Spring Baptist Cemetery in Interlachen, Florida.*findagrave|6257533 Retrieved on 2007-11-10]

A complete list of his medals and decorations includes: the Medal of Honor, the Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze stars, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.

Medal of Honor citation

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to
PRIVATE FIRST CLASS ROBERT H. JENKINS, JR. UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
for service as set forth in the following CITATION:

:For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a Marine Gunner with Company C, Third Reconnaissance Battalion, Third Marine Division in connection with operations against enemy forces in the Republic of Vietnam. Early on the morning of March 5, 1969, Private First Class Jenkins' twelve-man reconnaissance team was occupying a defensive position at Fire Support Base Argonne south of the Demilitarized Zone. Suddenly, the Marines were assaulted by a North Vietnamese Army platoon employing mortars, automatic weapons, and hand grenades. Reacting instantly, Private First Class Jenkins and another Marine quickly moved into a two-man fighting emplacement, and as they boldly delivered accurate machine gun fire against the enemy, a North Vietnamese soldier threw a hand grenade into the friendly emplacement. Fully realizing the inevitable results of his action, Private First Class Jenkins quickly seized his comrade, and pushing the man to the ground, he leaped on top of the Marine to shield him from the explosion. Absorbing the full impact of the detonation, Private First Class Jenkins was seriously injured and subsequently succumbed to his wounds. His courage, inspiring valor and selfless devotion to duty saved a fellow Marine from serious injury or possible death and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.cite web
accessdate=
url=http://www.usmc.mil/moh.nsf/000003c919889c0385255f980058f5b6/000003c919889c0385255fa4005f789d?OpenDocument
title=Private First Class Robert H. Jenkins, Jr., Medal of Honor recipient
work=Medal of Honor citation 1969, 3dReconBn, Vietnam
publisher=History Division, United States Marine Corps
archivedate=2007-02-22
archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070222175651/http://www.usmc.mil/moh.nsf/000003c919889c0385255f980058f5b6/000003c919889c0385255fa4005f789d?OpenDocument]

/S/ RICHARD M. NIXON

Notes

ee also

*List of Medal of Honor recipients
*List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Vietnam War
*List of African American Medal of Honor recipients

References

:Marine Corps
*findagrave|6257533 Retrieved on 2007-11-10
*cite web
accessdate=2007-11-10
url = http://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who/Jenkins_RH.htm
title = Private First Class Robert H. Jenkins, Jr., Medal of Honor recipient
work = Who's who in Marine Corps history
publisher = History Division, United States Marine Corps
date = September 18, 2003

*cite web
accessdate=
url=http://www.usmc.mil/moh.nsf/000003c919889c0385255f980058f5b6/000003c919889c0385255fa4005f789d?OpenDocument
title=Private First Class Robert H. Jenkins, Jr., Medal of Honor recipient
work=Medal of Honor citation 1969, 3dReconBn, Vietnam
publisher=History Division, United States Marine Corps
archivedate=2007-02-22
archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070222175651/http://www.usmc.mil/moh.nsf/000003c919889c0385255f980058f5b6/000003c919889c0385255fa4005f789d?OpenDocument