Michael Lee Jenkins
Private First ClassE CO, 2ND BN, 4TH MARINES, 3RD MARDIV
United States Marine Corps
02 January 1948 - 25 February 1969
Covington, Virginia
Panel 31W Line 050
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The database page for Michael Lee Jenkins
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I remember Michael (Micky) Jenkins from growing up in Covington, Virginia in the Parrish Court area of town where Micky lived in the mid to late 60's. He was approximately 7-8 years older than my classmates and I but he was a friend to everyone in the close-knit neigborhood. I can still recall many days we would sit outside in his front yard on Gordon Street and listen to stories that Micky would tell us. He had a great sense of humor and he often would assign nicknames to all of us and make us laugh and feel at ease no matter what else might be going on. I still remember walking home from church as we often did on Sunday's with my best friend and we heard the news that Micky was killed in Vietnam on our way home. The news then to us meant we had lost one we looked to for direction, the leader of us all that we revered and admired. That same news now that we are older is so much sadder and we understand now better what a terrible price was paid. I subsequently moved from Covington and do not know any of Micky's relatives but he was a genuinely good person that I would like to see honored here. He made life better and more enjoyable for us all in that neighborhood and his memory does live on.
From a friend, |
A Note from The Virtual WallFire Support Bases NEVILLE and RUSSELL were west of Cam Lo, with NEVILLE the westernmost of the two. In late February 1969, NEVILLE was occupied by Golf Btry 3/12 with Hotel Company, 2/4 as a security force. Five miles to the east, FSB RUSSELL had Hotel and Mortar Btries, 3/12, and elements of 2/4 as a security force - primarily Echo 2/4, but also elements of H&S Company.In the early morning hours of 25 Feb 1969 both bases were hit hard by NVA sappers - about 200 from the 246th NVA Regiment at NEVILLE and an equal number from the 27th NVA Regiment at RUSSELL. In each case the attacks began with heavy mortar fire and supporting artillery fire from within the DMZ, followed by a ground attack clearly intended to destroy the artillery pieces in their gun pits. In each case the enemy partially overran the base, and in each case the Marines drove them out again. When the sun rose, the Marines had over three dozen dead and 100+ wounded, while there were 61 enemy bodies inside the two perimeters - but the guns had sustained no serious damage and were firing. The 29 Americans killed at FSB RUSSELL were
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The point-of-contact for this memorial is a friend, John Worley E-mail address is not available. |
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With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Memorial first published on 01 Apr 2008
Last updated 11/13/2010