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

Nov 13 , 2025

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

Robert H. Jenkins Jr. stood at the edge of hell—grenades flying, bullets slicing the air, men falling wounded and bleeding around him. In a split second, a live grenade landed amongst his squad. Without hesitation, Jenkins dove onto it, a human shield—his body absorbing the blast meant for his comrades. The explosion silenced him forever. In that instant, Robert Jenkins became more than a soldier. He became their salvation.

Anchored by Faith and Duty

Robert Jenkins was born in 1948, a son of Sidney, North Carolina. Raised in a community stitched tightly by church pews and hard work, his values were hammered on a foundation of faith and sacrifice. The Scriptures weren’t just words on his tongue. They were the mission briefs of his soul.

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

He carried that truth heavier than any combat load. His faith was a compass in Vietnam’s chaos—a steadfast code not just to survive, but to serve. Friends remembered him as a quiet man who bore the weight of war with humility, never looking for glory. Duty was his discipline; sacrifice, his language.

The Battle That Defined Him

March 5, 1969. Quang Nam Province, South Vietnam—Jenkins was a corporal in Company D, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment. The area was a tinderbox of enemy resistance.

His squad was on patrol near the Song O Lau River when the Viet Cong erupted from dense jungle, guerrilla fire catching them flat-footed. The firefight was brutal—close quarters, disorienting, merciless. Jenkins moved with lethal precision, rallying his men under a torrent of fire.

Then came the grenade. The cruel reckoning.

With no hesitation, Jenkins pinned down the explosive with his body. The blast tore through him, fragments ripping flesh and bone. Despite mortal wounds, his selfless act crushed the grenade’s deadly force, saving every man standing near.

Every life counts.

His final act was a testament written in blood, courage inked with pain.

Honors from a Nation That Never Forgot

Posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, Jenkins' citation recounts his conspicuous gallantry and self-sacrifice beyond the call of duty. It reads:

“By his extraordinary heroism and unwavering devotion to his comrades, Corporal Jenkins reflected great credit upon himself and the Marine Corps.”

His bravery resonated beyond the battlefield. Marine Corps Commandants and comrades alike spoke of Jenkins’ quiet strength.

Major General David D. Barrett declared Jenkins’ act “a touchstone of valor — a reminder that the fiercest battles are often those fought for others.”

His name is etched on memorial walls worldwide—a symbol of ultimate sacrifice.

Legacy Carved in Flesh and Spirit

Robert Jenkins left more than medals. He left a permanent pulse in the veins of all who soldier for others.

His story teaches brutal clarity: courage isn’t absence of fear. It is the choice to act when fear screams the loudest.

To shield others at mortal cost — that is the highest honor a warrior can claim.

Today, veterans carry Jenkins’ legacy in their scars, their stories, and their will to protect the fallen, the broken, the forgotten.

His sacrifice is a scriptural echo in the thunder of war and the quiet after: a call to honor love’s cost and embrace redemption in service.

“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” — Matthew 5:9

Robert H. Jenkins Jr. reminds us that on the battlefield of life, some men choose to be shields. Some carry their brothers through hell. And some never come back because they choose to stay in the flames — for the rest of us.