Medal of Honor recipient visits Fort Jackson

By Andrew McIntyre, Fort Jackson LeaderNovember 25, 2014

Medal of Honor recipient visits Fort Jackson
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Medal of Honor recipient visits Fort Jackson
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Medal of Honor recipient Don Jenkins takes aim at a rifle range Nov. 19, 2014. Jenkins was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in Vietnam in 1969 as a Soldier with the 2nd Battalion, 39th Infantry Regiment. He visited the unit and Fort Jackson... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Medal of Honor recipient visits Fort Jackson
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FORT JACKSON, S.C. (Nov. 25, 2014) -- The 2nd Battalion, 39th Infantry Regiment welcomed one the unit's heroes to Fort Jackson Nov. 19-20. Don Jenkins, a Medal of Honor recipient for his actions while serving with the 2-39th in Vietnam, observed Basic Combat Training and shared inspirational stories with the unit's drill sergeants and cadre during a luncheon Wednesday.

He told the Soldiers that his tour in Vietnam got off to a rough start, which taught him a lesson in leadership and how important it is for leaders to always take care of their Soldiers.

"Within a few days we were attacked inside the wire, and all I had on was my underwear and a T-shirt, and I did not know that I was supposed to sleep with my rifle so I don't know what happened to it during the night," Jenkins said. "I was really green then. I was really new to the area. There was not a lot that I knew."

Before the attack took place, Jenkins said he tried to get a new uniform, food and a new weapon, but was turned away by the supply sergeant, the mess hall sergeant and was also yelled at by his lieutenant for not being prepared.

"When the attack happened on our unit I grabbed someone else's rifle and ended up killing a guy who was going to kill the lieutenant," said Jenkins "We killed 11 guys that night inside the wire."

Jenkins received the Silver Star for his actions that day.

"I want all of you to remember that you should take care of your Soldiers," he said. "They might not be the same rank as you, they might not help you while you're here, but out there is where it's really going to count."

Jenkins also spoke about the night of Jan. 6, 1969, when his unit encountered the enemy in the Kien Phong Province. Jenkins, then a private first class, was a machine gunner on a reconnaissance mission when his unit came under heavy crossfire. For his actions that night, Jenkins was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1971.

"Within the first 60 seconds of the fight, the lieutenant, the (platoon sergeant) and a few other guys were all hit. There was a sniper out there along with ... machine guns. We fought well up into the night," Jenkins said. "I went back and forth picking up the wounded guys. I took out three different bunkers that day that had us pinned down."

According to his Medal of Honor citation, Jenkins "unhesitatingly maneuvered forward to a perilously exposed position and began placing suppressive fire on the enemy. When his own machine gun jammed, he immediately obtained a rifle and continued to fire into the enemy bunkers until his machine gun was made operative by his assistant. He exposed himself to extremely heavy fire when he repeatedly both ran and crawled across open terrain to obtain resupplies of ammunition until he had exhausted all that was available for his machine gun.

"Displaying tremendous presence of mind, he then armed himself with two antitank weapons and, by himself, maneuvered through the hostile fusillade to within 20 meters of an enemy bunker to destroy that position. After moving back to the friendly defensive perimeter long enough to secure yet another weapon, a grenade launcher, ... Jenkins moved forward to a position providing no protection and resumed placing accurate fire on the enemy until his ammunition was again exhausted. During this time he was seriously wounded by shrapnel.

"Undaunted and displaying great courage, he moved forward 100 meters to aid a friendly element that was pinned down only a few meters from the enemy. This he did with complete disregard for his own wound and despite having been advised that several previous rescue attempts had failed at the cost of the life of one (Soldier) and the wounding of others. Ignoring the continuing intense fire and his painful wounds, and hindered by darkness, he made three trips to the beleaguered unit, each time pulling a wounded comrade back to safety."

Jenkins concluded his visit by attending Basic Combat Training graduation Nov. 20, which included a family friend, Pvt. Mark Proctor, 1st Battalion, 13th Infantry Regiment.

"He was my influence for joining the Army," Proctor said. "He was .., a role model. It's rare to have a Medal of Honor recipient living right down the road from you."

Related Links:

Fort Jackson, S.C.

2nd Battalion, 39th Infantry Regiment

Army.mil: Medal of Honor

Fort Jackson Leader

Medal of Honor recipient: Don Jenkins