Medal of Honor recipient Don Jenkins will be honored at Daytona

Fifty years after Staff Sergeant Don Jenkins pulled wounded comrades to safety after several failed rescue attempts, he will be honored the weekend of the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway. As part of the NASCAR Salutes Refreshed by Coca-Cola program, Daytona is honoring three United States Army veterans who were awarded the Medal of Honor. President Richard Nixon presented the medal to Jenkins on April 20, 1970 for his distinctive service in the Vietnam War. MORE: Honoring Gary Littrell | Honoring Leroy Petry Born in Quality, Kentucky, Jenkins is now 70. He was just 20 years old and a private in the U.S. Army when he fought through heavy fire in Kien Phong province while suffering shrapnel wounds himself to reach a unit that had been pinned down. “You have buddies calling your name -- ‘Don? You alive? Come get me,’ ” Jenkins recalled in an interview with "Stars and Stripes." After the war, Jenkins returned to Morgantown, Kentucky, and was a coal miner. He recalled that he didn't want any attention for the Medal of Honor at the time he received it, but things changed after 9/11. He now is more active in representing Vietnam veterans and Medal of Honor recipients. Of the 3,501 Medal of Honor recipients, 72 are living. “Recognizing Medal of Honor recipients is one of the most important traditions we have at Daytona International Speedway,” said speedway President Chip Wile. “This recognition is rooted in our facility’s history, while also being embedded in the values all Americans hold dear. It is a true privilege to have these American heroes join us for our race weekend.” The three veterans will take part in a luncheon, drivers meetings and pre-race ceremonies for the Coke Zero Sugar 400. | Coke Zero 400 tickets Read Staff Sergeant Don Jenkins' official Medal of Honor citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. S/Sgt. Jenkins (then Pfc.), Company A, distinguished himself while serving as a machine gunner on a reconnaissance mission. When his company came under heavy crossfire from an enemy complex, S/Sgt. 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, S/Sgt. 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 and 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. S/Sgt. Jenkins' extraordinary valor, dedication, and indomitable spirit inspired his fellow soldiers to repulse the determined enemy attack and ultimately to defeat the larger force. S/Sgt. Jenkins' risk of his life reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army. MORE: NASCAR Salutes military spouses