Robert H. Jenkins Jr. Medal of Honor Marine Who Saved Two Men

Nov 14 , 2025

Robert H. Jenkins Jr. Medal of Honor Marine Who Saved Two Men

Robert H. Jenkins Jr. moved closer to the edge of chaos, heart pounding in sync with the mortar rounds falling around him. His squad was pinned down, the air thick with smoke and fear. Then— a sudden flash, a deadly grenade arcing toward his men. Jenkins didn’t hesitate. He dove, absorbing the blast with his own body. The world slipped away in pain and silence, but his sacrifice saved lives that day.

Roots Forged in Faith and Honor

Born in 1948, Robert Jenkins grew up in Ridgeway, South Carolina. A simple upbringing, steeped in church pews and the quiet strength of a rural community. He carried those early lessons like armor—as a Marine, they were the unspoken rules: protect your brothers, stand your ground, never leave a man behind.

Faith wasn’t just comfort for Jenkins. It was conviction—a light in the darkest trenches. It’s no coincidence his actions would echo the ancient words, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13)

The Firestorm Over Hue City

January 31, 1968: The Tet Offensive unfurled like a storm across South Vietnam. Jenkins, a young Corporal in Company H, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines, found himself in the hellscape of Hue City. The battle would stretch for over a month, turning streets into graves and every corner into a crucible.

Jenkins’ squad was tasked with clearing enemy positions in dense urban combat—close quarters, brutal. On February 5th, his unit came under a vicious attack. Grenades rained like hail. Amid the confusion, one enemy explosive landed right in the heart of his team.

With no time for thought or prayer, Jenkins threw his body over it. The blast took his legs and lungs, but his shield held. Miraculously, two Marines he saved lived to fight another day.

Medal of Honor: Blood and Valor

His Medal of Honor citation captures the aftermath with clinical brutality—but the flesh-and-bone truth goes deeper.

“For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a fire team leader… Corporal Jenkins' actions inspired all who witnessed them and saved the lives of two Marines.”

Commanders and comrades remembered him as no stranger to sacrifice, driven by a fierce love for his fellow Marines. Lieutenant Colonel Robert Leckie, a decorated veteran himself, later said,

“Jenkins was the kind of man who showed what true courage looks like—raw, selfless, and complete.”

Enduring Lessons from the Young Marine

Jenkins died that day, but his legacy remains alive in every story told around campfires and memorials. He taught us that heroism isn’t a headline or a medal—it’s the quiet decision to put others first when the knife edges the soul.

His scars are not just wounds but witness marks—proof that even the most violent battlefields can shape men to a higher calling. Jenkins’ life was a testament to the power of faith, grit, and absolute loyalty.

His story reminds every veteran: redemption isn’t a safe zone—it's a battlefield where we fight for meaning beyond survival. For the civilians listening, it echoes the cost of freedom.

“Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.” — 1 Corinthians 16:13

Robert H. Jenkins Jr. gave more than blood that day. He passed down a legacy carved in sacrifice. We owe him a debt that can never be repaid, only remembered—and lived.