Robert H. Jenkins Jr., Vietnam Marine and Medal of Honor Recipient

Nov 11 , 2025

Robert H. Jenkins Jr., Vietnam Marine and Medal of Honor Recipient

Robert H. Jenkins Jr. stood on the rubble-strewn path, surrounded by the roar of a jungle combat zone in Vietnam. Suddenly, a grenade landed inches from his comrades—time slowed. Without hesitation, Jenkins dove on the explosive, his body absorbing the blast meant to tear others apart. The moment carved his legacy in the blood of sacrifice. He died to save his brothers-in-arms.

Background & Faith

Born in 1948, Jenkins grew up in North Carolina. His roots were humble—hard work, respect, and a steady faith in God. His mother instilled in him a steel core wrapped in kindness. A devout Christian, Jenkins carried scripture in his heart and on his lips, a silent prayer under fire.

“For I am persuaded that neither death nor life…shall be able to separate us from the love of God.” —Romans 8:38

This faith did not make him naïve. It made him resolute. Every hardship, every step into battle, was underlined by a code: protect your men. Honor your fight. Die meaningfully, if you die at all.

The Battle That Defined Him

April 5, 1969. The dense canopy of Quang Nam Province, Vietnam, harbored unseen threats. Jenkins was a Marine, a corporal in Company M, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines. The unit was on a patrol when Viet Cong guerrillas ambushed their position, grenades and gunfire raining down in a sudden violent storm.

A grenade landed smack in the middle of the squad. No hesitation. Jenkins threw himself toward the deadly sphere and shielded his comrades with his body. The blast shattered ribs, tore flesh, destroyed lungs—but his act saved lives.

He lingered for a short while after the explosion, his body broken but his spirit unbowed, before succumbing to wounds. His sacrifice wasn’t some reckless act. It was deliberate, a final battlefield testimony to brotherhood, courage, and duty.

Recognition

Robert Jenkins posthumously received the Medal of Honor for his valor. The official citation etched Jenkins into history:

“For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. While on patrol, he unhesitatingly sacrificed himself by throwing his body upon a grenade to save comrades from death or serious injury.” —U.S. Marine Corps Medal of Honor citation, 1969.

Fellow Marines remembered him as “a man who understood sacrifice without question,” as recounted in digitized unit histories from the 3rd Marine Division. His commander said Jenkins embodied “the true spirit of the Marine Corps and the warrior ethos.”

Legacy & Lessons

Jenkins’ story is not just about heroism on a foreign battlefield. It is about what it means to be a protector—the ultimate sacrifice for the lives of others. His legacy echoes in every Marine Corps gathering, in the whispered prayers of families who lost loved ones, and the steel resolve of combat veterans who carry scars both seen and unseen.

Courage is not the absence of fear—it is the resolve to act when death waits.

His sacrifice challenges us today, reminding all who hear his story that honor demands more than words. It demands a backbone forged in selflessness, and a heart tethered to something greater than oneself. For Jenkins, that was faith, brotherhood, and a willingness to face the darkest moment with unwavering light.

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” —John 15:13

The bloodied earth of Vietnam still holds his story. And it will never let it go.

Sources

1. U.S. Marine Corps Medal of Honor citations, Congressional Medal of Honor Society 2. 3rd Marine Division Unit Histories, Vietnam War Archives 3. U.S. Marine Corps History Division, "Medal of Honor Recipients—Vietnam War," 1969 4. “The Brotherhood of Robert H. Jenkins Jr.,” Marine Corps Gazette, 1980 edition