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

Dec 06 , 2025

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

He heard the hiss before he saw it—half a second that stretched into eternity. A grenade, spat out by the enemy, rolling into the foxhole. No time to think. Only one choice.

Robert H. Jenkins Jr. dove, body falling on that metal death, shielding his brothers. The blast tore through him, but his sacrifice bought the seconds that saved lives.

Humble Beginnings, Unyielding Faith

Born in 1948, Robert Jenkins came from a working-class background in New York City. No silver spoons, just grit and faith forged by hard times and steady family roots. His mother’s prayers and his Sunday church anchored his belief in something bigger than the chaos around him.

Jenkins carried a personal code. Courage wasn’t for glory. It was obligation. Duty. The sacred bond among soldiers. It was about protecting life at all costs—even if it meant paying the ultimate price himself.

His Marines called him “Rock” for his steady calm under fire. Behind that moniker was a man who knew the words of Romans 12:21 by heart:

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

The Battle That Defined Him

March 5, 1969. Quang Nam Province, Vietnam. Jenkins served as a lance corporal in the 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division—a unit known for deep reconnaissance and deadly patrols through hostile jungle.

That day, his patrol ran into a fierce Viet Cong ambush. The firefight erupted instantly—gunfire slicing the humid air, explosions cracking like thunder. They held their ground, but numbers were against them.

Then the grenade landed. It skidded toward Jenkins and two fellow Marines, pinned down by the blast’s radius. No hesitation.

Jenkins sprung forward, heart steeled, covering the grenade with his own body. The explosion ripped his right leg. Shrapnel tore through his chest and arm.

Despite lethal wounds, Jenkins tried to crawl, to pull one badly wounded Marine to safety. His comrades lifted him to medevac as bullets still ricocheted nearby. His courage wasn’t just instinct—it was brotherhood.

Honoring the Scars: Medal of Honor and Legacy

Lance Corporal Robert H. Jenkins Jr. died of his wounds shortly after the medevac. His name joined the annals of sacrifice. On September 2, 1970, Jenkins was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military decoration.

The citation reads in part:

“For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty... he unhesitatingly threw himself on the grenade to protect his comrades from death or serious injury.”

Commanders spoke of his selflessness. One officer said, “Jenkins embodied the Marine Corps’ highest ideals. His sacrifice speaks louder than words ever could.” His comrades remember him as the man who gave everything—so others might live.

A Legacy Carved in Flesh and Spirit

Jenkins’ story is a brutal lesson in the cost of war—and the sacredness of sacrifice. His body bore wounds, but his spirit lived in every Marine who followed. His name decorates schools and military facilities, symbols not of glory, but of raw, holy duty.

More than medals, Jenkins taught this: courage demands surrender of self. True valor means standing in harm’s way for your brothers when fear screams to run.

His sacrifice is the prayer of a soldier etched in blood. It challenges those who watch from afar to understand what redemption costs on the front lines.

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

Robert H. Jenkins Jr. did exactly that. He reminds us that beneath every scar lies a story of love, faith, and ultimate devotion—etched in the raw truth of combat. His legacy is not just history. It is a call to live with purpose, honor, and the courage to stand in the fire, so others might see the light.