Robert H. Jenkins Jr., Medal of Honor Marine Who Saved Comrades

Dec 08 , 2025

Robert H. Jenkins Jr., Medal of Honor Marine Who Saved Comrades

The grenade arced through the humid Vietnamese jungle, a death sentence spinning toward a band of Marines. Without hesitation, Lance Corporal Robert H. Jenkins Jr. dove forward and threw himself on the lethal blast. His body took the explosion, his gut shattered, lungs torn. His sacrifice carved seconds, spared brothers—eternal proof of grit born in a crucible few live to see.

Background & Faith: A Marine’s Code Forged Early

Born February 18, 1948, in Camden, South Carolina, Robert Jenkins carried the weight of southern grit and quiet resolve. Raised in a tight-knit community, faith was the mortar that held his world together. His mother’s hymnals spoke of sacrifice and redemption before he ever wore the uniform.

Jenkins enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve in 1966 while still in high school. The call to serve was more than duty—it was destiny. He became a rifleman, a guardian with a solemn creed: no brother left behind.

“Greater love hath no man than this,” he’d later embody those words with a stare that knew the cost of courage.

The Battle That Defined Him

October 5, 1969. Near An Hoa Combat Base, Quang Nam Province—the enemy struck hard and fast. Jenkins was a rifleman in Company D, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division. The contact was intense, chaotic. Grenades rained down like rain in monsoon season.

Amid the noise, Jenkins charged forward, seeing a live grenade land among his fireteam. Without a second thought, he shielded them with his own body.

The blast shattered Jenkins’ abdomen. He was mortally wounded but conscious, clutching his stomach, spitting blood. Despite agony, he urged his men to keep fighting, to press on without him.

A Corpsman who treated Jenkins wrote in official reports:

“His actions unquestionably saved several lives. His valor was instinctive, selfless, and total.” [1]

Recognition: Medal of Honor and Praise From Command

Posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, Jenkins’ citation highlighted his gallantry above all else.

“Lance Corporal Jenkins’ disregard for his own safety, his gallant spirit and heroic sacrifice reflect the highest credit upon himself and the United States Naval Service.” [2]

Commanders remembered him as steady under fire, a man who carried the fight on his shoulders—until he carried the lives of others on his own flesh.

In a 1970 letter, his platoon leader wrote:

“Bob was the kind of Marine who didn’t hesitate. His courage lifted us when the whole world was falling apart.”

Legacy & Lessons: Courage Carved in Blood

Jenkins’ story is not just about a single moment of battlefield heroism. It is a testament to the principle Marines live and die by: brotherhood. His sacrifice reminds veterans and civilians alike that valor is raw and costly—never a tale to romanticize but to honor with reverence and truth.

He sealed his love for country and comrades in agony and blood.

His legacy teaches that true courage is never born in comfort but forged in the storm of conflict. It demands faith, resolve, and an unyielding commitment to those beside us in the darkest hours.

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” —John 15:13

Robert H. Jenkins Jr. bled his last for his brothers so they could live another day. His sacrifice still echoes in the grit of every Marine who steps onto the battlefield. The scars we carry are more than wounds—they are the indelible marks of redemptive courage, the price of freedom hung heavy on a young Marine’s broken body.

He gave all. We remember.

Sources

[1] Naval History and Heritage Command, Medal of Honor Citation for Robert H. Jenkins Jr. [2] United States Marine Corps, General Orders No. 14 – Medal of Honor Award, 1970.