Robert John Jenkins was commissioned an Infantry Officer upon graduation from Officer Candidate School (Class 14-69) on 3 April 1969.
His first duty assignment was as Tactical Training Officer, 85th Student Battalion, Fort Benning, Georgia. His subsequent duty assignments include: Tactical Training Officer, 85th Company, 8th Student Battalion, Fort Benning, Georgia; Headquarters Company Commander, 172d Infantry Brigade, Fort Richardson, Alaska; He served as Commander, Alpha Company, 172d Infantry Brigade, Fort
Richardson, Alaska.
He deployed to Vietnam where he served as Deputy Senior Advisor, Military Assistance Command Vietnam, (Team 3), 3rd Regiment, 1st Army Republic of Vietnam Infantry Division, South Vietnam; He was wounded in combat and was awarded the Purple Heart and the Silver Star for gallantry in action against the enemy.
He took a break from active duty to answer a higher calling . After graduating from seminary, he was ordained by the Church of God, Cleveland, Tennessee. He re-entered active duty to attend the US Army Chaplain Basic Officer Course. After graduation, his first duty assignment as a Chaplain was to serve as Assistant Brigade Chaplain, Headquarters Company, 2nd Training Brigade, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri; then as Field Command Chaplain, Johnston Island Pacific Atoll.
Returning to CONUS, he served as the DIVARTY Chaplain, 101st Airborne Division Artillery, Fort Campbell, Kentucky; Honduras Command Chaplain, 101st Airborne Division Artillery, Honduras; Division Artillery Chaplain, 101st Airborne Division Artillery, Fort Campbell, Kentucky. He served as DISCOM Chaplain, 3rd Infantry Division, Kitzingen; Staff Chaplain, NATO\SHAPE, Mons, Belgium; Staff Chaplain, 18th Airborne Corps Artillery, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Command Chaplain, 104th Area Support Group, Hanau, Germany; Installation Chaplain, U.S. Army Garrison, Fort Drum, New York; Command Chaplain, U.S. Special Operations Command, Tampa, Florida; Command Chaplain, U.S. Forces Korea & Eighth Army, Yongsan, Korea; Command Chaplain, U.S. Forces Korea and Eighth U.S. Army. He retired from active duty in 2004.
He died at 77 years of age in Bradenton, Florida. (25 January 1948—3 June 2025). He will be remembered respectfully by all that served with him.
Well done, Chaplain Jenkins.
