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

Nov 10 , 2025

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

Robert H. Jenkins Jr. felt the grenade’s arc before it landed. Time slowed. A heartbeat stretched eternal. His body moved on pure will—not instinct, not training, not hope, but purpose. He dove toward his men and pressed his chest over the deadly fruit of war.

That’s how heroes are carved in flesh and blood.

Background & Faith

Born in Savannah, Georgia, Jenkins grew up in a world that demanded toughness and grace in equal measure. He was raised in the church, where his faith anchored him amid storms. Psalm 23 wasn’t just ink on paper—it was a lifeline.

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death...”

That was more than scripture. It was a battlefield truth he lived daily. His faith forged a silent code: protect your brother, no matter the cost.

He enlisted in the Marine Corps, carrying that code into the swirling chaos of Vietnam. For Jenkins, war wasn’t glory—it was duty, sacrifice, and an ugly test of humanity’s edge.

The Battle That Defined Him

April 28, 1969. Near An Hoa Combat Base in Quang Nam Province, Jenkins was with Company D, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines. The enemy struck hard and fast—the kind of fight where every second could end a life.

As they cleared a heavily fortified enemy bunker complex, a grenade landed amidst the men. No hesitation. Jenkins threw himself on it. The explosion shredded his body, but his shield held.

His actions saved the lives of three fellow Marines. Jenkins’ sacrifice was total, but his spirit refused to die that day.

Recognition: Medal of Honor

Posthumous honors followed. President Richard Nixon awarded Jenkins the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty.

His citation reads: “By his […] extraordinary heroism and selfless devotion to duty, Corporal Jenkins was instrumental in saving the lives of three Marines.”

Lieutenant Colonel George L. Butler called Jenkins’ action “the purest expression of Marine Corps values … a brother’s love that carried the ultimate price.”[1]

Jenkins’ name is etched not just on medal rolls, but on the souls of every warrior who carries the weight of combat and the burden of survival.

Legacy & Lessons

Jenkins stands as a blood-stained monument to sacrifice. He shows us what it means to choose others above self—even when the cost is everything. In that choice, redemption flickers.

His story reminds us that valor isn’t in violence but in love forged under fire. The battlefield is merciless—it demands we carry scars, both seen and hidden.

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

To those who wear the uniform, Jenkins’ sacrifice is a beacon—a call to hold fast when all falls apart. To civilians, his story breaks through apathy, illuminating the true cost of freedom.

The blood spilled by Robert H. Jenkins Jr. waters a legacy of courage etched in eternity. His death ignites life—an unbroken chain of warriors who answer the call with fierce hearts and unyielding faith.

Sources

1. U.S. Marine Corps History Division, Medal of Honor Citation for Robert H. Jenkins Jr., 1969. 2. Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, Robert H. Jenkins Jr. Profile, 2023. 3. Marine Corps Gazette, “The Heroism of Robert H. Jenkins Jr.,” Vol. 54, No. 3, March 1970.