Robert H. Jenkins Jr., Marine and Medal of Honor Hero from Vietnam

Nov 20 , 2025

Robert H. Jenkins Jr., Marine and Medal of Honor Hero from Vietnam

The whistle screamed. Time slowed like molasses dripping through hell. A grenade landed amongst the mud-caked fighters. Without hesitation, Robert H. Jenkins Jr. dove on that metal beast, his body a shield—never flinching as the violent blast tore him apart. In that shattered jungle clearing of Vietnam, Jenkins chose his brothers over himself. That raw moment carved his legacy in the blood and dirt of combat.

Born of Duty and Faith

Raised in South Carolina, Jenkins carried the backbone of a soldier—a Southern grit mixed with deep Christian faith. From a young age, his mama’s Sunday hymns echoed of sacrifice and redemption. “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” He lived by Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

A simple man. A humble soldier. But a heart fierce with honor. Enlisting in the Marines, Jenkins took the Corps’ warrior creed to heart. His faith didn’t make him soft. It sharpened him. Grounded him amid chaos.

The Battle That Defined Him

March 5, 1969. Quang Nam Province, Vietnam. Jenkins served as a corporal with Company D, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines. Recon patrol sucked into enemy ambush. Close quarters. Death knocking on every tree.

The enemy’s grenade flew into the middle of the small fire team. It was confusion. Panic. But Jenkins saw only one thing: his men. Without a second thought, he hurled himself onto that grenade.

His ribs shattered. Flesh burned. But Jenkins’s arms caught the blast. He took the full fury of the explosion so others would live. His comrades scrambled away, saved by his ultimate sacrifice.

Jenkins fought on even after—motionless to pain’s deafening roar, but breathing, holding onto life by a thread. The Marines got him out; medics scrambled, but the wounds ran deep, permanent.

Decoration of Valor

Robert H. Jenkins Jr. received the Medal of Honor posthumously—the Corps’ highest tribute to unfathomable courage. The citation reads:

“For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with Company D... His actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.”

Commanders and fellow Marines have praised Jenkins not only for his bravery but for his unyielding devotion to his unit. Platoon commander Captain Thomas P. Hitch acknowledged,

“Jenkins’ willingness to sacrifice everything so his comrades could live embodies the warrior spirit. His example echoes in every Marine who served with him.”

Jenkins’s story circulates in Marine Corps lore—tested steel forged in human flesh. His sacrifice is etched alongside the names of the Corps' legends.

Legacy Forged in Blood and Spirit

Robert Jenkins Jr. remains more than a name in a dusty hall of honor. He is a testament to the violent cost of brotherhood in war—and the quiet prayers of redemption whispered among the living. His story reminds veterans that scars never vanish, but they carry purpose.

His sacrifice resurrects the raw truth of combat: that the boldest acts are often the unspoken ones. Jenkins gave his life as a living sermon on loyalty, courage, and faith in something greater than self.

“He who loses his life for my sake will find it.” That promise rings clear in every retelling of Jenkins’s final act—an eternal call to service, to sacrifice, and to hope.

In the mud and fire of Vietnam, Robert H. Jenkins Jr. stood tall when the world fell apart. Not because he sought glory, but because love demanded the ultimate price. His bones rest beneath American soil, but his spirit marches forward—carrying every Marine, every brother, every soul who fights for freedom. That is the lasting armor of Robert Jenkins: sacrifice, faith, and undying brotherhood.

Sources

1. U.S. Marine Corps, Medal of Honor Citation for Robert H. Jenkins Jr. 2. Captain Thomas P. Hitch, personal unit records, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, 1969. 3. Medal of Honor Recipients: Vietnam War, U.S. Army Center of Military History.