This Military Service Page was created/owned by
SGT David O Olsen
to remember
Jenkins, William, SFC.
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Casualty Info
Home Town St George, SC
Last Address St George, SC
Casualty Date Feb 19, 1968
Cause KIA-Killed in Action
Reason Multiple Fragmentation Wounds
Location Binh Long (Vietnam)
Conflict Vietnam War
Location of Interment Jerusalem Church Cemetery - St George, South Carolina
Dwight Birdwell Posted the following regarding William Jenkins: This gentleman was KIA on February 19, 1968, along with PFC/SP4 Larry Moore. Harold Donnelly was seriously injured. SFC Jenkins was the new PSG for the Third Platoon. He left behind a young wife and baby son.
We were all on C 35. The earlier C 35, which I was on at Tan Son Nhut, was overrun, captured and destroyed at Hoc Mon. SFC Jenkins was new, as were Moore and Donnelly. I was classified as a Gunner on C 35 that day. Jenkins was the TC, and Moore was the Loader. At a great distance, across a wide open field, I saw two fast moving balls of fire approaching our tank. I had an M 60, which I used to try to shoot down the balls of fire. I failed. One ball of fire hit the top of the tank, decapitating Moore and blowing Jenkins into two pieces. We had a significant load of spare ammo in the bustle rack behind the TC and Loader slots, and one of the balls of fire hit that ammo. There was a big blast. Donnelly, to my right, took the brunt of that blast, saving me from serious injury. We were both blown into a ditch nearby. The unit pulled back, leaving us in the ditch. Finally, First Sgt. Delacerda crawled up the ditch, and rescued us. Donnelly was hospitalized for weeks, then returned to C Troop. He was assigned to my C 36, and on July 7, 1968, was critically injured by RPG's which, after several years, ended his life. He, like Jenkins, Moore, was a prince of a fellow. Bill Watts, a fine Texan, was also on C 36, and injured. He DOW on July 12, 1968.
Manuel Pino B/2/8th Cav 68-69 mpjr54@msn.com
Fellow Vietnam Army Vet
C Trp/3/4th Cav Rgt, 25th Inf Div
"DEATH LEAVES A HEARTACHE NO ONE CAN HEAL, LOVE LEAVES LIVES A MEMORY NO ONE CAN STEAL"
Mar 8, 2008
manny g
Fellow Veteran 69-70 An Khe
Union Gap, WA. 98903
“You are Remembered”
Peace and condolence, to the family and friends. "He which hath no stomach, to this fight, let him depart. But we in it, shall be remembered. We few, we happy few, we band of brothers!! For he today, that sheds his blood with me, shall always be my brother.” Rest in peace brave soldier, you have not been forgotten. (W.Shakespeare) May God Bless you, for your Sacrifice!!!
Feb 19, 2007
Vickie Coplin foxx@wownet.com
SISTER IN CHRIST
GA USA
ALWAYS REMEMBERED BY THOSE OF US WHO CARE! FOREVER ETCHED IN OUR HEART! A HERO "LIVES" FOREVER! DANCE WITH THE ANGELS!
Wednesday, February 19, 2003
We Remember
William is buried at Jerusalem Church Cemetery, St George,SC. BSM PH
"If you are able, save for them a place inside of you....and save one backward glance when you are leaving for the places they can no longer go.....Be not ashamed to say you loved them.... Take what they have left and what they have taught you with their dying and keep it with your own....And in that time when men decide and feel safe to call the war insane, take one moment to embrace those gentle heros you left behind...."
Quote from a letter home by Maj. Michael Davis O'Donnell KIA 24 March 1970. Distinguished Flying Cross: Shot down and Killed while attempting to rescue 8 fellow soldiers surrounded by attacking enemy forces.
We Nam Brothers pause to give a backward glance, and post this remembrance to you, one of the gentle heros lost to the War in Vietnam:
Slip off that pack. Set it down by the crooked trail. Drop your steel pot alongside. Shed those magazine-ladened bandoliers away from your sweat-soaked shirt. Lay that silent weapon down and step out of the heat. Feel the soothing cool breeze right down to your soul ... and rest forever in the shade of our love, brother.
From your Nam-Band-Of-Brothers
Posted by: Bill Nelson Email: grite@yahoo.com Relationship: NamVet 2/502 Inf 101 Abn 69-70 Wednesday, October 12, 2005
