Robert H. Jenkins Jr., Medal of Honor recipient at Hue, Vietnam

Jan 19 , 2026

Robert H. Jenkins Jr., Medal of Honor recipient at Hue, Vietnam

He saw the grenade land—just a heartbeat before it erupted. No hesitation. No thought for himself. Robert H. Jenkins Jr. dove onto the explosive, his body a shield between death and his brothers-in-arms. The blast tore him apart, but his sacrifice sealed their fate: survival.

The Backbone of a Warrior

Born on October 10, 1948, in New Bern, North Carolina, Jenkins grew up steeped in the values of faith and family. Raised by a devout Christian household, his upbringing was a crucible of discipline and conviction—a boy molded to understand sacrifice meant something deeper than pain or loss. The words of Psalm 91 echoed in his soul:

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.”

This wasn’t just scripture; it was a lifeline. In a world spinning with war and uncertainty, Jenkins carried a quiet confidence rooted in his belief that courage was tied to something eternal. A private who enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1967, he was known for a fiery spirit and unwavering loyalty to his unit.

The Inferno at Hue

February 1969. The streets of Hue City smoldered beneath a grim sky during the Tet Offensive’s aftermath. Jenkins, a rifleman with Company F, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, was entrenched in an urban nightmare. The Viet Cong and North Vietnamese soldiers employed every dirty trick: snipers, booby traps, ambushes.

In a rain of gunfire and the stench of smoke, his squad pushed through the wreckage of shattered buildings. Every step was a risk. Then came the scream of a grenade arc through the air, tumbling toward the men.

Jenkins saw it clear as day. He had seconds—too few for most, but in those few, he made a choice. The Medal of Honor citation captures the moment:

“Without hesitation, Private First Class Jenkins threw himself on the grenade, absorbing the full force of the explosion with his body... His gallantry and intrepidity saved the lives of his comrades at the cost of his own.”

The blast tore through his chest and legs. Still, in his final breaths, Jenkins remained a warrior. His shield was the price of life to others.

Honoring the Fallen Shield

The nation recognized Jenkins’ supreme sacrifice posthumously with the Medal of Honor on June 2, 1970. His parents accepted the medal on his behalf in a ceremony etched with solemn respect.

General Robert E. Cushman Jr., then Commandant of the Marine Corps, said:

“PFC Jenkins’ actions embody the spirit and fierce determination of every Marine who steps into battle. His sacrifice is not just a moment in history—it is a lasting beacon.”

Fellow Marines recall Jenkins as more than valor on the battlefield. “He was the kind of man who’d have your back, all the way,” said Sgt. Thomas McAllister, a surviving witness. “He planted hope in Hell.”

Blood and Redemption

Jenkins’ story goes beyond the blood and dust. It draws a line through the fog of war directly to the human heart. His sacrifice was an ultimate act of love—a testament to the brotherhood that binds combat veterans.

“No greater love has a man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” —John 15:13

From the grime of war, a clarion call rises: Courage means putting others first. Sacrifice is the currency of freedom. And redemption is available even in the darkest trenches.

Remember Jenkins.

Not just for the medal. But for the raw, haunting truth that freedom is never free. It is paid in blood, and in the will of men who choose to stand in the gap.

His legacy charges every man and woman who takes up the fight—not just to survive, but to save. That is the call to honor, to faith, and to something beyond ourselves.

The warrior’s shadow stretches long. And it casts light for all who come after.

Sources

1. Department of Defense, Medal of Honor Citation for Robert H. Jenkins Jr. 2. Marine Corps History Division, “Vietnam War Medal of Honor Recipients” 3. Robert E. Cushman Jr. speeches and Marine Corps archives, 1970 4. Sgt. Thomas McAllister interview, Marine Corps Oral History Program