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SSGT Delbert Owen Jennings

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SSGT Delbert Owen Jennings Famous memorial Veteran

Birth
Silver City, Grant County, New Mexico, USA
Death
16 Mar 2003 (aged 66)
Honolulu, Honolulu County, Hawaii, USA
Burial
Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, USA GPS-Latitude: 38.877, Longitude: -77.0711
Plot
Section 7A, Lot 157
Memorial ID
View Source
Viet Nam Medal of Honor Recipient. Served in the United States Army during the war in Viet Nam as a Staff Sergeant in Company C, 1st Battalion (Airborne), 12th Cavalry, 1st Air Cavalry Division. He was awarded the CMOH for his bravery in the Kim Song Valley, Republic of Vietnam, December 27, 1966. His citation reads "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty. Part of Company C was defending an artillery position when attacked by a North Vietnamese Army regiment supported by mortar, recoilless-rifle, and machine gun fire. At the outset, S/Sgt. Jennings sprang to his bunker, astride the main attack route, and slowed the on-coming enemy wave with highly effective machine gun fire. Despite a tenacious defense in which he killed at least 12 of the enemy, his squad was forced to the rear. After covering the withdrawal of the squad, he rejoined his men, destroyed an enemy demolition crew about to blow up a nearby howitzer, and killed 3 enemy soldiers at his initial bunker position. Ordering his men back into a secondary position, he again covered their withdrawal, killing 1 enemy with the butt of his weapon. Observing that some of the defenders were unaware of an enemy force in their rear, he raced through a fire-swept area to warn the men, turn their fire on the enemy, and lead them into the secondary perimeter. Assisting in the defense of the new position, he aided the air-landing of reinforcements by throwing white phosphorous grenades on the landing zone despite dangerously silhouetting himself with the light. After helping to repulse the final enemy assaults, he led a group of volunteers well beyond friendly lines to an area where 8 seriously wounded men lay. Braving enemy sniper fire and ignoring the presence of booby traps in the area, they recovered the 8 men who would have probably perished without early medical treatment. S/Sgt. Jenning's extraordinary heroism and inspirational leadership saved the lives of many of his comrades and contributed greatly to the defeat of a superior enemy force. His actions stand with the highest traditions of the military profession and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army". His Medal was awarded to him at the White House by President Lyndon B. Johnson on September 19, 1968. Originally buried in the "Punchbowl" in Hawaii, he was re-interred in Arlington National Cemetery.
Viet Nam Medal of Honor Recipient. Served in the United States Army during the war in Viet Nam as a Staff Sergeant in Company C, 1st Battalion (Airborne), 12th Cavalry, 1st Air Cavalry Division. He was awarded the CMOH for his bravery in the Kim Song Valley, Republic of Vietnam, December 27, 1966. His citation reads "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty. Part of Company C was defending an artillery position when attacked by a North Vietnamese Army regiment supported by mortar, recoilless-rifle, and machine gun fire. At the outset, S/Sgt. Jennings sprang to his bunker, astride the main attack route, and slowed the on-coming enemy wave with highly effective machine gun fire. Despite a tenacious defense in which he killed at least 12 of the enemy, his squad was forced to the rear. After covering the withdrawal of the squad, he rejoined his men, destroyed an enemy demolition crew about to blow up a nearby howitzer, and killed 3 enemy soldiers at his initial bunker position. Ordering his men back into a secondary position, he again covered their withdrawal, killing 1 enemy with the butt of his weapon. Observing that some of the defenders were unaware of an enemy force in their rear, he raced through a fire-swept area to warn the men, turn their fire on the enemy, and lead them into the secondary perimeter. Assisting in the defense of the new position, he aided the air-landing of reinforcements by throwing white phosphorous grenades on the landing zone despite dangerously silhouetting himself with the light. After helping to repulse the final enemy assaults, he led a group of volunteers well beyond friendly lines to an area where 8 seriously wounded men lay. Braving enemy sniper fire and ignoring the presence of booby traps in the area, they recovered the 8 men who would have probably perished without early medical treatment. S/Sgt. Jenning's extraordinary heroism and inspirational leadership saved the lives of many of his comrades and contributed greatly to the defeat of a superior enemy force. His actions stand with the highest traditions of the military profession and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army". His Medal was awarded to him at the White House by President Lyndon B. Johnson on September 19, 1968. Originally buried in the "Punchbowl" in Hawaii, he was re-interred in Arlington National Cemetery.

Bio by: RPD2



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  • Maintained by: Find a Grave
  • Originally Created by: RPD2
  • Added: Apr 3, 2003
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7324193/delbert_owen-jennings: accessed ), memorial page for SSGT Delbert Owen Jennings (23 Jul 1936–16 Mar 2003), Find a Grave Memorial ID 7324193, citing Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, USA; Maintained by Find a Grave.